Determination of search space sets for physical downlink control channel (pdcch) monitoring

ABSTRACT

A user equipment, a base station, and a method for determining search space sets for PDCCH monitoring. The UE includes a receiver and a processor and is configured to receive a configuration for search space sets. The configuration includes a first group of search space sets, a second group of search space sets, a first group index for the first group of search space sets, and a second group index for the second group of search space sets. The UE is also configured to determine an indication corresponding to either the first group index or the second group index, and to receive, based on the indication, physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first group of search space sets or the second group of search space sets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/858,021 filed on Jun. 6, 2019, andto U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/900,038 filed on Sep. 13,2019. The above-identified provisional patent applications are herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5^(th)-Generation (5G) or 5Gcommunication system to be provided for supporting higher data ratesBeyond 4^(th)-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long-TermEvolution (LTE). More particularly, some embodiments of the presentdisclosure are directed to determination of search space sets for PDCCHmonitoring.

BACKGROUND

To meet the increased demand for wireless data services since thedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5Gor pre-5G communication system is also called a ‘Beyond 4G Network’ or a‘Post LTE System’. A 5G communication system can be implemented inhigher frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, compared to a 4Gcommunication system to provide higher data rates. To decrease apropagation loss of radio waves and increase a transmission distance,beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), FullDimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beamforming, andlarge-scale antenna techniques are considered in 5G communicationsystems. In addition, in 5G communication systems, development forsystem network improvement is under way based on advanced small cells,cloud Radio Access Networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks,device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, moving network,cooperative communication, Coordinated Multi-Points (CoMP),reception-end interference cancellation and the like. In the 5G system,Hybrid FSK and QAM Modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superpositioncoding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bankmulti carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparsecode multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have beendeveloped.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a user equipment (UE) anda base station (BS) for determining search space sets for PDCCHmonitoring.

One embodiment is directed to a UE that includes a receiver configuredto receive a configuration for search space sets. The configuration caninclude a first group of search space sets and a second group of searchspace sets, and a first group index for the first group of search spacesets and a second group index for the second group of search space sets.The UE also includes a processor operably connected to the receiver andconfigured to determine an indication corresponding to either the firstgroup index or the second group index. The receiver is furtherconfigured to receive, based on the indication, physical downlinkcontrol channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first group of searchspace sets or the second group of search space sets.

Another embodiment is directed to a BS for determining search space setsfor PDCCH monitoring. The BS includes a processor configured to generatea configuration for search space sets. The configuration can include afirst group of search space sets and a second group of search spacesets, and a first group index for the first group of search space setsand a second group index for the second group of search space sets. TheBS also includes a transceiver operably connected to the processor andconfigured to transmit the configuration and transmit physical downlinkcontrol channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first group of searchspace sets or the second group of search space sets. Additionally, thePDCCHs are based on an indication corresponding to either the firstgroup index or the second group index.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a method for determining searchspace sets for PDCCH monitoring. The method includes a step of receivinga configuration for search space sets. The configuration includes afirst group of search space sets and a second group of search spacesets, and a first group index for the first group of search space setsand a second group index for the second group of search space sets. Themethod also includes a step of determining an indication correspondingto either the first group index or the second group index. The methodincludes another step of receiving, based on the indication, physicaldownlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first groupof search space sets or the second group of search space sets.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller may beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. Likewise, the term “set”means one or more. Accordingly, a set of items can be a single item or acollection of two or more items.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art shouldunderstand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply toprior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its advantages,reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary networked computing system according tovarious embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary base station (BS) in the networkedcomputing system according to various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user equipment (UE) in the networkedcomputing system according to various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary transmit and receive pathsaccording to various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary transmitter according to variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary receiver according to variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary encoding flowchart for a DCI format inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary decoding flowchart for a DCI format inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart for determining a configuration of asearch space set from a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format in a searchspace set in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart for determining a TCI state of a CORESETassociated with PDCCH monitoring of a search space set in accordancewith various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart for monitoring a search space set inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart for receiving a multicast TB scheduledby a Type1-PDCCH in a search space set t in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart for transmitting HARQ-ACK informationfor a multicast TB based on Type1-PDCCH in a search space set inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates flowchart for receiving control information based onType2-PDCCH in a search space set in accordance with various embodimentsof this disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for receiving multiple TBs scheduled bya DCI format in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart for activation/deactivation of searchspace sets triggered by a physical layer signal/channel in accordancewith various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for adaptation on CORESET based on asignal/channel at the physical layer in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for determining non-overlapping CCEswith adaptation requests through a signal/channel at the physical layerin accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaptation request by aUE when the adaptation request is received through a MAC CE inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaption request orindication by a UE when the adaptation request or indication is receivedthrough a DCI format with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI in accordance withvarious embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaptation request onPDCCH monitoring in a UE when the adaptation request is received througha group-common PDCCH or non-scheduling DCI without HARQ feedback inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart for applying an application delay by aUE when power saving signal/channel is monitored outside and inside ofthe DRX active time in accordance with various embodiments of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart for interpretation of a PS-DCI detectedoutside of the DRX active time by a UE in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 24 illustrates a flowchart for detecting a DCI format by a UE atthe beginning of a DRX ON duration for triggering UE adaptation inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 25 illustrates a flowchart for detecting a DCI format by a UEwithin the DRX Active Time for power saving in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 26 illustrates a multibeam transmission on the DCI format fortriggering UE adaptation associated with DRX operation through N_MOs>1PDCCH monitoring occasions per PDCCH monitoring periodicity inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 27 illustrates a PDCCH monitoring occasion outside of DRX ONduration that is overlapped by the dynamic Active Time of the previousDRX cycle in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 28 illustrates a UE skipping the monitoring occasion of PS-DCI inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 29 illustrates repetitions on a DCI format for triggering UEadaptation within DRX Active Time in accordance with various embodimentsof this disclosure; and

FIG. 30 illustrates a flowchart for determining search space sets forPDCCH monitoring in accordance with various embodiments of thisdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures included herein, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure are by way ofillustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit thescope of the disclosure. Further, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged wireless communication system.

The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent disclosure as if fully set forth herein: 3GPP TS 38.211 v15.5.0,“NR; Physical channels and modulation”, hereinafter “REF 1”; 3GPP TS38.212 v15.5.0, “NR; Multiplexing and channel coding”, hereinafter “REF2”; 3GPP TS 38.213 v15.5.0, “NR; Physical layer procedures for control”,hereinafter “REF 3”; 3GPP TS 38.214 v15.5.0, “NR; Physical layerprocedures for data”, hereinafter “REF 4”; 3GPP TS 38.215 v15.5.0, “NR;Physical layer measurements”, hereinafter “REF 5”; 3GPP TS 38.321v15.5.0, “NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification”,hereinafter “REF 6”; 3GPP TS 38.331 v15.5.0, “NR; Radio Resource Control(RRC) protocol specification”, hereinafter “REF 7”; and 3GPP TR 38.840v0.1.1, “NR1 Study on UE power Saving”, hereinafter “REF 8”.

A time unit for downlink (DL) signaling or for uplink (UL) signaling ona cell can include one or more symbols of a slot that includes apredetermined number of symbols, such as 14 symbols, and haspredetermined duration. A bandwidth (BW) unit is referred to as aresource block (RB). One RB includes a number of sub-carriers (SCs) andone SC in one symbol of a slot is referred to as resource element (RE).In one example, a slot can have duration of 1 millisecond and an RB canhave a bandwidth of 180 KHz when the RB includes 12 SCs with inter-SCspacing of 15 KHz. In another example, a slot can have duration of 0.25milliseconds and an RB can have a bandwidth of 720 KHz when the RBincludes 12 SCs with inter-SC spacing of 60 KHz. A slot can includesymbols used for DL transmissions or for UL transmissions including allsymbols being used for DL transmissions or all symbols being used for ULtransmissions. For more detail, refer to REF 1.

DL signals include data signals conveying information content, controlsignals conveying DL control information (DCI), and reference signals(RS) that are also known as pilot signals. A gNB transmits datainformation or DCI through respective physical DL shared channels(PDSCHs) or physical DL control channels (PDCCHs). A gNB transmits oneor more of multiple types of RSs including channel state information RS(CSI-RS) and demodulation RS (DMRS), as discussed in more detail inREF 1. A CSI-RS is primarily intended for UEs to perform measurementsand provide channel state information (CSI) to a gNB. A DMRS is receivedonly in the BW of a respective PDCCH or PDSCH reception and a UEtypically uses the DMRS to demodulate data or control information.

UL signals also include data signals conveying information content,control signals conveying UL control information (UCI), DMRS associatedwith data or UCI demodulation, sounding RS (SRS) enabling a gNB toperform UL channel measurement, and a random access (RA) preambleenabling a UE to perform random access (as discussed in more detail inREF 1). A UE transmits data information or UCI through a respectivephysical UL shared channel (PUSCH) or a physical UL control channel(PUCCH). When a UE simultaneously transmits data information and UCI,the UE can multiplex both in a PUSCH. UCI includes hybrid automaticrepeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information, indicatingcorrect or incorrect detection of transport blocks (TBs) with datainformation in a PDSCH, scheduling request (SR) indicating whether a UEhas data to transmit in its buffer, and CSI reports enabling a gNB toselect appropriate parameters for PDSCH or PDCCH transmissions to a UE(as discussed in more detail in REF 4).

UL RS includes DMRS and SRS. DMRS is transmitted only in a BW of arespective PUSCH or PUCCH transmission. A gNB can use a DMRS todemodulate information in a respective PUSCH or PUCCH. SRS istransmitted by a UE to provide a gNB with an UL CSI and, for a TDDsystem, also DL CSI. Additionally, in order to establish synchronizationor an initial RRC connection with a gNB, a UE can transmit a physicalrandom-access channel (PRACH), as discussed in more detail in REF 3 andREF 5. To reduce control overhead for scheduling receptions ortransmission over multiple RBs, an RB group (RBG) can be used as a unitfor PDSCH receptions or PUSCH transmissions where an RBG includes apredetermined number of RBs (see also REF 2 and REF 4).

DL transmissions or UL transmissions can be based on an orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform including a variantusing DFT precoding that is known as DFT-spread-OFDM, as discussed inmore detail in REF 1. Exemplary transmitters and receivers using OFDMare depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 that follow.

A UE typically monitors multiple candidate locations for respectivepotential PDCCH receptions to decode one or more DCI formats in a slot,for example as described in REF 3. A DCI format includes cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits in order for the UE to confirm a correctdetection of the DCI format. A DCI format type is identified by a radionetwork temporary identifier (RNTI) that scrambles the CRC bits, asdescribed in REF 2. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH or a PUSCH to asingle UE, the RNTI can be a cell RNTI (C-RNTI) and serve as a UEidentifier. For a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH conveying systeminformation (SI), the RNTI can be a SI-RNTI. For a DCI format schedulinga PDSCH providing a random-access response (RAR), the RNTI can be aRA-RNTI. For a DCI format providing transmit power control (TPC)commands to a group of UEs, the RNTI can be a TPC-RNTI. Each RNTI typecan be configured to a UE through higher layer signaling such as RRCsignaling, as discussed in REF 5. A DCI format scheduling PDSCHtransmission to a UE is also referred to as DL DCI format or DLassignment while a DCI format scheduling PUSCH transmission from a UE isalso referred to as UL DCI format or UL grant.

A PDCCH transmission can be within a set of PRBs. A gNB can configure aUE one or more sets of PRB sets, also referred to as control resourcesets (CORESETs), for PDCCH receptions (see also REF 3). A PDCCHtransmission can be in control channel elements (CCEs) of a CORESET. AUE determines CCEs for a PDCCH reception based on a search space set(see also REF 3). A set of CCEs that can be used for PDCCH reception bya UE define a PDCCH candidate location.

An exemplary encoding process and decoding process for a DCI format isdiscussed in FIGS. 7 and 8 below.

For each DL bandwidth part (BWP) configured to a UE in a serving cell,the UE can be provided by higher layer signaling a number of CORESETs.For each CORESET, the UE is provided:

a CORESET index, p;

a DM-RS scrambling sequence initialization value;

a precoder granularity for a number of REGs in frequency where the UEcan assume use of a same DM-RS precoder;

a number of consecutive symbols;

a set of resource blocks;

CCE-to-REG mapping parameters;

an antenna port quasi co-location, from a set of antenna port quasico-locations, indicating quasi co-location information of the DM-RSantenna port for PDCCH reception; and

an indication for a presence or absence of a transmission configurationindication (TCI) field for DCI format 1_1 transmitted by a PDCCH inCORESET p. Additional detail is provided in REF 1, REF 2, and REF 3.

For each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE is providedby higher layers with a number of search space sets where, for eachsearch space set from the number search space sets, the UE is providedthe following (see also REF 3):

a search space set index, s;

an association between the search space set, s, and a CORESET index, p;

a PDCCH monitoring periodicity of k_(s) slots and a PDCCH monitoringoffset of o_(s) slots;

a PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slot, indicating first symbol(s) ofthe control resource set within a slot for PDCCH monitoring;

a number of PDCCH candidates, M_(s) ^((L)), per CCE aggregation level,L;

an indication that search space set s is either a common search spaceset or a UE-specific search space set; and

a duration of T_(s)<k_(s) slots indicating a number of slots that thesearch space set s exists.

For a search space set s associated with CORESET p, the CCE indexes foraggregation level L corresponding to PDCCH candidate m_(s,n) _(CI) ofthe search space set in slot n_(s,f) ^(μ) for a serving cellcorresponding to carrier indicator field value n_(CI) (also referred toas search space) are given as in Equation 1:

$\begin{matrix}{{L \cdot \{ {( {Y_{p,n_{s,f}^{\mu}} + \lfloor \frac{m_{s,n_{CI}} \cdot N_{{CCE},p}}{L \cdot M_{s,{m\; {ax}}}^{(L)}} \rfloor + n_{CI}} ){mod}\lfloor {N_{{CCE},p}/L} \rfloor} \}} + i} & ( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} )\end{matrix}$

where:

for any common search space, Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) =0;

for a UE-specific search space, Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) =(A_(p)·Y_(p,n)_(s,f) _(μ) ⁻¹) mod D, Y_(p,−1)=n_(RNTI)≠0, A_(p)=39827 for p mod 3=0,A_(p)=39829 for p mod 3=1, A_(p)=39839 for p mod 3=2 and D=65537;

i=0, ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ , L−1;

N_(CCE,p) is the number of CCEs, numbered from 0 to N_(CCE,p)−1, inCORESET p;

n_(CI) is the carrier indicator field value if the UE is configured witha carrier indicator field; otherwise, including for any common searchspace, n_(CI)=0;

m_(s,n) _(CI) =0, . . . , M_(p,s,n) _(CI) ^((L))−1, where M_(s,n) _(CI)^((L)) is the number of PDCCH candidates the UE is configured to monitorfor aggregation level L for a serving cell corresponding to n_(CI) and asearch space set s;

for any common search space, M_(s,max) ^((L))==M_(s,0) ^((L));

for a UE-specific search space, M_(s,max) ^((L)) is the maximum ofM_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) across all configured n_(CI) values for a CCEaggregation level L of search space set s in control resource set p; and

the RNTI value used for n_(RNTI).

A PUCCH can be transmitted according to one from multiple PUCCH formatsas described in REF 1 and REF 3. A PUCCH format corresponds to astructure that is designed for a particular UCI payload range asdifferent UCI payloads require different PUCCH transmission structuresto improve an associated UCI block error rate (BLER). A PUCCHtransmission is also associated with a TCI state providing a spatialdomain filter for a PUCCH transmission as described in REF 3 and REF 4.A PUCCH can be used to convey HARQ-ACK information, SR, orperiodic/semi-persistent CSI and their combinations.

A UE can be configured for operation with multiple bandwidth parts (BWP)in a DL system BW (DL BWPs) and in an UL system BW (UL BWP) as describedin REF 3. At a given time, only one DL BWP and only one UL BWP areactive for the UE. Configurations of various parameters, such as searchspace set configuration for PDCCH reception or PUCCH resources for PUCCHtransmission, can be separately provided for each respective BWP. Aprimary purpose for BWP operation is to enable power savings for the UE.When the UE has data to transmit or receive, a large BWP can be usedand, for example, search space sets can be greater than one and haveshort monitoring periodicity. When the UE does not have data to transmitor receive, a small BWP can be used and, for example, a single searchspace set can be configured with longer monitoring periodicity.

There are two types of search space supported in NR Rel-15: UE-specificsearch space (USS) and common search space (CSS). A UE determines CCElocations for PDCCH candidates in a USS using a corresponding C-RNTI anddetermines CCE locations in a CSS independently of an RNTI as describedin Equation 1.

Table 1 summarizes search spaces types according to REF 3 andcorresponding RNTIs for DCI formats according to REF 2 and REF 3.

TABLE 1 Search Type Space RNTI Use case Type0-PDCCH CSS SI-RNTI for RMSIon a SIB Decoding primary cell Type0A-PDCCH CSS SI-RNTI on a primarycell SIB Decoding Type1-PDCCH CSS RA-RNTI, TC-RNTI, Msg2, Msg4 C-RNTI ona primary cell decoding in RACH Type2-PDCCH CSS P-RNTI on a primary cellPaging Decoding Type3-PDCCH CSS INT-RNTI, SFI-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-SRS- RNTI, only for the primary cell, C-RNTI, orCS-RNTI(s) UE-specific USS C-RNTI, or CS-RNTI(s), or User-specific PDCCHSP-CSI-RNTI PDSCH decoding

Table 2. Association Between RNTI Types and Search Spaces.

TABLE 2 Type Signaling Parameters Type0-PDCCH pdcch-ConfigSIB1 inMasterInformationBlock searchSpaceSIB1 in PDCCH-ConfigCommonsearchSpaceZero in PDCCH-ConfigCommon Type0A-PDCCHsearchSpaceOtherSystemInformation in PDCCHConfigCommon Type1-PDCCHra-SearchSpace in PDCCH-ConfigCommon Type2-PDCCH pagingSearchSpace inPDCCH-ConfigCommon Type3-PDCCH SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config withsearchSpaceType = common UE-specific PDCCH SearchSpace in PDCCH-Configwith searchSpaceType = ue-Specific

In addition to the previous use cases, use of a CSS can be beneficialfor other functionalities. For example, a CSS can be used to multicastdata to a group of UEs, such as multicast of virtual reality videos topeople in a same room, or multicast an industrial control message tomachines for massive machine-type communication (mMTC) applications.

In NR Rel-15, after a UE establishes RRC connection with a serving gNB,the UE can be configured to monitor PDCCH in a CSS for a correspondingDCI format through a UE-specific RRC IE, such as PDCCH-config asdescribed in REF 2 and REF 5. When needed to address a sub-group of UEs,from a group of UEs configured to monitor the DCI format, the DCI formatcan schedule a PDSCH reception and the UEs that need to process theinformation content of the DCI format or the information content of theTB in the PDSCH can be indicated by information in the PDSCH. Forexample, when a group of UEs in RRC CONNECTED state are configured tomonitor PDCCH in a CSS in order to detect a DCI format and obtaininformation for an adaptation request, such as a go-to-sleep request fora UE to at least not monitor PDCCH for a time period, a sub-group of UEsfrom the group of UEs can be indicated by information in a PDSCHscheduled by the DCI format and the remaining UEs from the group of UEscan ignore the adaptation request.

Therefore, novel aspects of the present disclosure recognize the need todetermine PDCCH assignment, including search space, search space set,PDCCH candidates and non-overlapping CCE of blind decoding; to supportmulticasting of both data and control messages to a group of UEs; todefine a PDCCH type for multicasting a transmission block (TB) to agroup of UEs; to define a PDCCH type for multicasting common controlinformation to a group of UEs; and to enhance PDCCH transmission to agroup of UEs.

Dynamic adaptation on PDCCH monitoring for a UE, such as skipping PDCCHmonitoring for one or more search space sets during a period, or(de)activation of CORESETs/search space sets, and adapting PDCCHmonitoring periodicity/duration, have been considered to enable UE powersavings. In REF 8, various schemes for reducing PDCCH monitoring show0.5%-85% power saving gains for a UE relative to the power required bythe UE for PDCCH monitoring as previously described for Rel-15 NR. Lowerpower saving gains 0.5-15% occur for the continuous trafficcorresponding to a full buffer for a UE. High power saving gains 50-85%were observed for sporadic traffic arrival corresponding to moretypical, FTP-based, traffic patterns for a UE.

In NR Rel-15, a UE monitors PDCCH (decoded PDCCH candidates atcorresponding PDCCH monitoring occasions) based on configured searchspace sets provided to the UE for each serving cell and activated BWPper serving cell by a serving gNB. The configuration of search spacesets is provided to a UE by higher layer signaling and therefore doesnot allow for fast adaptation of PDCCH monitoring by the UE to addressdynamic variations in the traffic patterns for the UE. A fasteradaptation for PDCCH monitoring by a UE, such as one provided by a DCIformat in a PDCCH or by a MAC control element, can offer materialreduction in a power consumption by the UE for monitoring PDCCH byenabling/disabling decoding operations associated with PDCCH candidatesin search space sets according to dynamic variations in traffic whileavoiding a loss in throughput or an increase in scheduling latency thatmay occur when a UE is provided an insufficient number of PDCCHcandidates.

Therefore, other novel aspects of this disclosure also recognize theneed to enable an adaptation for PDCCH monitoring in search space setsthrough a signal/channel at the physical layer; to provide an indicationfor PDCCH monitoring occasions when PDCCH monitoring is adapted througha signal/channel at the physical layer; to determine PDCCH candidatesand non-overlapped CCEs per slot, or per PDCCH monitoring occasion, fora DL BWP when PDCCH monitoring is adapted through a signal/channel atthe physical layer; to define a timeline for applying an adaptationrequest through a signal/channel at the physical layer; to determine theinterpretation of a DCI format for triggering UE adaptation at least forpower saving purpose; to determine the monitoring occasion ofsignal/channel at physical layer for triggering UE adaptation associatedwith DRX operation in RRC_CONNECTED state; and to determine themonitoring occasion of signal/channel at physical layer for triggeringUE adaptation without association with DRX operation in RRC_CONNECTEDstate.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary networked computing system according tovarious embodiments of this disclosure. The embodiment of the wirelessnetwork 100 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsof the wireless network 100 could be used without departing from thescope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network 100 includes an gNodeB (gNB)101, an gNB 102, and an gNB 103. The gNB 101 communicates with the gNB102 and the gNB 103. The gNB 101 also communicates with at least oneInternet Protocol (IP) network 130, such as the Internet, a proprietaryIP network, or other data network.

The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of user equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 ofthe gNB 102. The first plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may belocated in a small business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in anenterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WIFI hotspot (HS); aUE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, whichmay be located in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which may be amobile device (M) like a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless PDA,or the like. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to thenetwork 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 ofthe gNB 103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE116.

Depending on the network type, the term ‘base station’ can refer to anycomponent (or collection of components) configured to provide wirelessaccess to a network, such as transmit point (TP), transmit-receive point(TRP), a gNB, a macrocell, a femtocell, a WIFI access point (AP), orother wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations may provide wirelessaccess in accordance with one or more wireless communication protocols,e.g., 5G 3GPP New Radio Interface/Access (NR), long term evolution(LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. Also, depending on the network type, otherwell-known terms may be used instead of “user equipment” or “UE,” suchas “mobile station,” “subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wirelessterminal,” or “user device.” For the sake of convenience, the terms“user equipment” and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer toremote wireless equipment that wirelessly accesses an gNB, whether theUE is a mobile device (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or isnormally considered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer orvending machine).

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the gNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, wireless network 100 can be a 5Gcommunication system in which a UE, such as UE 116, can communicate witha BS, such as BS 102, to determine search space sets for PDCCHmonitoring.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network 100,various changes may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network100 could include any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in anysuitable arrangement. Also, the gNB 101 could communicate directly withany number of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband accessto the network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 could communicatedirectly with the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wirelessbroadband access to the network 130. Further, the gNB 101, 102, and/or103 could provide access to other or additional external networks, suchas external telephone networks or other types of data networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary base station (BS) according to variousembodiments of this disclosure. The embodiment of the gNB 102illustrated in FIG. 2 is for illustration only, and the gNBs 101 and 103of FIG. 1 could have the same or similar configuration. However, gNBscome in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 2 does not limit thescope of this disclosure to any particular implementation of an gNB.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 280 a-280 n,multiple RF transceivers 282 a-282 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry284, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 286. The gNB 102 alsoincludes a controller/processor 288, a memory 290, and a backhaul ornetwork interface 292.

The RF transceivers 282 a-282 n receive, from the antennas 280 a-280 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs in the network100. The RF transceivers 282 a-282 n down-convert the incoming RFsignals to generate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signalsare sent to the RX processing circuitry 286, which generates processedbaseband signals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the basebandor IF signals. The RX processing circuitry 286 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 288 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 284 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 288. The TX processing circuitry 284 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 282 a-282 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 284 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 280 a-280 n.

The controller/processor 288 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 288 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 282 a-282 n, the RX processing circuitry 286, andthe TX processing circuitry 284 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 288 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. For instance, the controller/processor 288 could support beamforming or directional routing operations in which outgoing signals frommultiple antennas 280 a-280 n are weighted differently to effectivelysteer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any of a wide varietyof other functions could be supported in the gNB 102 by thecontroller/processor 288. In some embodiments, the controller/processor288 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The controller/processor 288 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 290, such as a basic OS. Thecontroller/processor 288 can move data into or out of the memory 290 asrequired by an executing process.

The controller/processor 288 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 292. The backhaul or network interface 292 allows the gNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The interface 292 could support communications overany suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the gNB102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such asone supporting 5G, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 292 could allow the gNB102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired or wireless backhaulconnection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as an access point, theinterface 292 could allow the gNB 102 to communicate over a wired orwireless local area network or over a wired or wireless connection to alarger network (such as the Internet). The interface 292 includes anysuitable structure supporting communications over a wired or wirelessconnection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 290 is coupled to the controller/processor 288. Part of thememory 290 could include a RAM, and another part of the memory 290 couldinclude a Flash memory or other ROM.

As described in more detail below, the BS 102 can communicateinformation to a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 1 over a networked computingsystem, for determining search space sets for PDCCH monitoring.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of gNB 102, various changes maybe made to FIG. 2. For example, the gNB 102 could include any number ofeach component shown in FIG. 2. As a particular example, an access pointcould include a number of interfaces 292, and the controller/processor288 could support routing functions to route data between differentnetwork addresses. As another particular example, while shown asincluding a single instance of TX processing circuitry 284 and a singleinstance of RX processing circuitry 286, the gNB 102 could includemultiple instances of each (such as one per RF transceiver). Also,various components in FIG. 2 could be combined, further subdivided, oromitted and additional components could be added according to particularneeds.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user equipment (UE) according to variousembodiments of this disclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustratedin FIG. 3 is for illustration only, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 couldhave the same or similar configuration. However, UEs come in a widevariety of configurations, and FIG. 3 does not limit the scope of thisdisclosure to any particular implementation of a UE.

As shown in FIG. 3, the UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 310, transmit (TX) processing circuitry 315,a microphone 320, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116also includes a speaker 330, a main processor 340, an input/output (I/O)interface (IF) 345, a keypad 350, a display 355, and a memory 360. Thememory 360 includes a basic operating system (OS) program 361 and one ormore applications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by an gNB of the network 100. The RF transceiver 310down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediatefrequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent tothe RX processing circuitry 325, which generates a processed basebandsignal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignal. The RX processing circuitry 325 transmits the processed basebandsignal to the speaker 330 (such as for voice data) or to the mainprocessor 340 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the main processor340. The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/ordigitizes the outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband orIF signal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processedbaseband or IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 andup-converts the baseband or IF signal to an RF signal that istransmitted via the antenna 305.

The main processor 340 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices and execute the basic OS program 361 stored in thememory 360 in order to control the overall operation of the UE 116. Forexample, the main processor 340 could control the reception of forwardchannel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signals by theRF transceiver 310, the RX processing circuitry 325, and the TXprocessing circuitry 315 in accordance with well-known principles. Insome embodiments, the main processor 340 includes at least onemicroprocessor or microcontroller.

The main processor 340 is also capable of executing other processes andprograms resident in the memory 360. The main processor 340 can movedata into or out of the memory 360 as required by an executing process.In some embodiments, the main processor 340 is configured to execute theapplications 362 based on the OS program 361 or in response to signalsreceived from gNBs or an operator. The main processor 340 is alsocoupled to the I/O interface 345, which provides the UE 116 with theability to connect to other devices such as laptop computers andhandheld computers. The I/O interface 345 is the communication pathbetween these accessories and the main processor 340.

The main processor 340 is also coupled to the keypad 350 and the displayunit 355. The operator of the UE 116 can use the keypad 350 to enterdata into the UE 116. The display 355 may be a liquid crystal display orother display capable of rendering text and/or at least limitedgraphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the main processor 340. Part of the memory360 could include a random-access memory (RAM), and another part of thememory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

As described in more detail below, UE 116 can communicate with a BS,such as BS 102 in FIG. 2 over a networked computing system, fordetermining search space sets for PDCCH monitoring in the UEs.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of UE 116, various changes maybe made to FIG. 3. For example, various components in FIG. 3 could becombined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components couldbe added according to particular needs. As a particular example, themain processor 340 could be divided into multiple processors, such asone or more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphicsprocessing units (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3 illustrates the UE 116configured as a mobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configuredto operate as other types of mobile or stationary devices.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary wireless transmit and receive pathsaccording to various embodiments of this disclosure. In FIGS. 4A and 4B,for downlink communication, the transmit path circuitry can beimplemented in a base station (gNB) 102 or a relay station, and thereceive path circuitry may be implemented in a user equipment (e.g.,user equipment 116 of FIG. 1). In other examples, for uplinkcommunication, the receive path circuitry 450 may be implemented in abase station (e.g., gNB 102 of FIG. 1) or a relay station, and thetransmit path circuitry may be implemented in a user equipment (e.g.,user equipment 116 of FIG. 1).

Transmit path 400 comprises channel coding and modulation block 405,serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 410, Size N Inverse Fast FourierTransform (IFFT) block 415, parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block 420, addcyclic prefix block 425, and up-converter (UC) 430. The receive path 450comprises down-converter (DC) 455, remove cyclic prefix block 460,serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 465, Size N Fast Fourier Transform(FFT) block 470, parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block 475, and channeldecoding and demodulation block 480.

At least some of the components in transmit path 400 and receive path450 may be implemented in software, while other components may beimplemented by configurable hardware or a mixture of software andconfigurable hardware. In particular, it is noted that the FFT blocksand the IFFT blocks described in this disclosure document may beimplemented as configurable software algorithms, where the value of SizeN may be modified according to the implementation.

Furthermore, although this disclosure is directed to an embodiment thatimplements the Fast Fourier Transform and the Inverse Fast FourierTransform, this is by way of illustration only and may not be construedto limit the scope of the disclosure. It may be appreciated that in analternate embodiment of the present disclosure, the Fast FourierTransform functions and the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform functions mayeasily be replaced by discrete Fourier transform (DFT) functions andinverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) functions, respectively. Itmay be appreciated that for DFT and IDFT functions, the value of the Nvariable may be any integer number (i.e., 1, 4, 3, 4, etc.), while forFFT and IFFT functions, the value of the N variable may be any integernumber that is a power of two (i.e., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.).

In the following example, the transmit path 400 is implemented in a BSand the receive path is implemented in a UE. In transmit path 400,channel coding and modulation block 405 receives a set of informationbits, applies coding (e.g., LDPC coding) and modulates (e.g., quadraturephase shift keying (QPSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)) theinput bits to produce a sequence of frequency-domain modulation symbols.Serial-to-parallel block 410 converts (i.e., de-multiplexes) the serialmodulated symbols to parallel data to produce N parallel symbol streamswhere N is the IFFT/FFT size used in BS 102 and UE 116. Size N IFFTblock 415 then performs an IFFT operation on the N parallel symbolstreams to produce time-domain output signals. Parallel-to-serial block420 converts (i.e., multiplexes) the parallel time-domain output symbolsfrom Size N IFFT block 415 to produce a serial time-domain signal. Addcyclic prefix block 425 then inserts a cyclic prefix to the time-domainsignal. Finally, up-converter 430 modulates (i.e., up-converts) theoutput of add cyclic prefix block 425 to RF frequency for transmissionvia a wireless channel. The signal may also be filtered at basebandbefore conversion to RF frequency.

The transmitted RF signal can arrive at a UE after passing through thewireless channel, and reverse operations to those at a gNB areperformed. Down-converter 455 down-converts the received signal tobaseband frequency and remove cyclic prefix block 460 removes the cyclicprefix to produce the serial time-domain baseband signal.Serial-to-parallel block 465 converts the time-domain baseband signal toparallel time-domain signals. Size N FFT block 470 then performs an FFTalgorithm to produce N parallel frequency-domain signals.Parallel-to-serial block 475 converts the parallel frequency-domainsignals to a sequence of modulated data symbols. Channel decoding anddemodulation block 480 demodulates and then decodes the modulatedsymbols to recover the original input data stream.

Each of gNBs 101-103 may implement a transmit path 400 that is analogousto transmitting in the downlink to user equipment 111-116 and mayimplement a receive path 450 that is analogous to receiving in theuplink from user equipment 111-116. Similarly, each one of userequipment 111-116 may implement a transmit path 400 corresponding to thearchitecture for transmitting in the uplink to gNBs 101-103 and mayimplement a receive path 450 corresponding to the architecture forreceiving in the downlink from gNBs 101-103.

As described in more detail below the transmit path 400 and receive path450 can be implemented in UEs, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3, and BSs, suchas BS 102 in FIG. 2, for communicating information over a networkedcomputing system for determining search space sets for PDCCH monitoringin the UEs.

Although FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of wireless transmit andreceive paths, various changes may be made to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Forexample, various components in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be combined, furthersubdivided, or omitted and additional components can be added accordingto particular needs. Also, FIGS. 4A and 4B are meant to illustrateexamples of the types of transmit and receive paths that can be used ina wireless network. Any other suitable architectures can be used tosupport wireless communications in a wireless network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary transmitter according to variousembodiments of this disclosure. The transmitter 500 can be implementedin an electronic device communicating via networked computing system,such as gNB 101 or UE 111.

Information bits 510, such as DCI bits or data bits, are encoded byencoder 520 and then rate matched to assigned time/frequency resourcesby rate matcher 530. The output from rate matcher 530 is modulated bymodulator 540. The modulated and encoded symbols 545 and DMRS or CSI-RS550 are mapped by SC mapping unit 560 based on SCs selected by BWselector unit 565. An inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is performedby IFFT unit 570 and a cyclic prefix (CP) is added by CP insertion unit580. The resulting signal is filtered by filter 590 to generatedfiltered signal 595, which is transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) unit(not shown).

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary receiver according to variousembodiments of this disclosure. The receiver 600 can be implemented inan electronic device communicating via networked computing system, suchas gNB 101 or UE 111.

A received signal 610 is filtered by filter 620 and then passed througha CP removal unit 630 that removes a cyclic prefix. IFFT unit 640applies a fast Fourier transform (FFT) and the resulting signals areprovided to SCs de-mapping unit 650. The SC de-mapping unit 650 de-mapsSCs selected by BW selector unit 655. Received symbols are demodulatedby a channel estimator and demodulator unit 660. A rate de-matcher 670restores a rate matching and a decoder 280 decodes the resulting bits toprovide information bits 290.

Each of the gNBs 101-103 may implement a transmitter 400 fortransmitting in the downlink to UEs 111-116 and may implement a receiver600 for receiving in the uplink from UEs 111-116. Similarly, each of UEs111-116 may implement a transmitter 400 for transmitting in the uplinkto gNBs 101-103 and may implement a receiver 600 for receiving in thedownlink from gNBs 101-103.

As described in more detail below, the transmitter 500 and receiver 600can be included in UEs and BSs, such as UE 116 and BS 102, forcommunicating information over a networked computing system fordetermining search space sets for PDCCH monitoring in the UEs.

Each of the components in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be implemented using onlyhardware or using a combination of hardware and software/firmware. As aparticular example, at least some of the components in FIGS. 5 and 6 maybe implemented in software, while other components may be implemented byconfigurable hardware or a mixture of software and configurablehardware. For instance, the IFFT block 570 may be implemented asconfigurable software algorithms.

Furthermore, although described as using IFFT, this is by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thisdisclosure. Other types of transforms, such as Discrete FourierTransform (DFT) and Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) functions,could be used.

Although FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate examples of wireless transmitters andreceivers, various changes may be made. For example, various componentsin FIGS. 5 and 6 could be combined, further subdivided, or omitted andadditional components could be added according to particular needs.Also, FIGS. 5 and 6 are meant to illustrate examples of the types oftransmitters and receivers that could be used in a wireless network. Anyother suitable architectures could be used to support wirelesscommunications in a wireless network.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary encoding flowchart for a DCI format inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. The encodingflowchart 700 can be implemented in a BS, such as gNB 102 in FIG. 2.

A gNB separately encodes and transmits each DCI format in a respectivePDCCH. When applicable, a RNTI for a UE that a DCI format is intendedfor masks a CRC of the DCI format codeword in order to enable the UE toidentify the DCI format. For example, the CRC can include 16 bits or 24bits and the RNTI can include 16 bits or 24 bits. Otherwise, when a RNTIis not included in a DCI format, a DCI format type indicator field canbe included in the DCI format. The CRC of non-coded DCI formatinformation bits 710 is determined using a CRC computation unit 720, andthe CRC is masked using an exclusive OR (XOR) operation unit 730 betweenCRC bits and RNTI bits 740. The XOR operation is defined as XOR(0,0)=0,XOR(0,1)=1, XOR(1,0)=1, XOR(1,1)=0. The masked CRC bits are appended toDCI format information bits using a CRC append unit 750. A channelencoder 760 performs channel coding (such as tail-biting convolutionalcoding or polar coding), followed by rate matching to allocatedresources by rate matcher 770. Interleaver and modulator unit 780applies interleaving and modulation, such as QPSK, and the outputcontrol signal 790 is transmitted.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary decoding flowchart for a DCI format inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. The decodingflowchart 800 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

A received control signal 810 is demodulated and de-interleaved by ademodulator and a de-interleaver 820. Rate matching applied at atransmitter is restored by rate matcher 830, and resulting bits aredecoded by decoder 840. After decoding, a CRC extractor 850 extracts CRCbits and provides DCI format information bits 860. The DCI formatinformation bits are de-masked by an XOR operation unit 870 with an RNTI880 (when applicable) and a CRC check is performed by CRC unit 890. Whenthe CRC check succeeds (check-sum is zero), the DCI format informationbits are considered to be valid (at least when corresponding informationis valid). When the CRC check does not succeed, the DCI formatinformation bits are considered to be invalid.

As described in more detail below, the encoding flowchart 700 anddecoding flowchart 800 can be implemented in a BS and UE, respectively,such as BS 102 in FIG. 2 and UE 116 in FIG. 3, for communicatinginformation over a networked computing system for determining searchspace sets for PDCCH monitoring in the UEs.

Determination of PDCCH Assignment

An embodiment of this disclosure considers determination PDCCHassignment that can support multicast data and control messages to agroup of UEs. The determination of PDCCH assignment includesspecification and configuration of search space, search spaceset/CORESET that can be used for multicast data and control messages toa group of UEs. The search space set for multicast data and controlmessages to a group of UEs can be common search space (CSS) set asdefined in REF 3 or a new search space set, which is referred to asUE-group search space (UGSS) herein. The PDCCH assignment also includesdetermination of PDCCH candidates and non-overlapped CCEs per PDCCHmonitoring occasion when supporting search space for multicast data andcontrol messages.

For a search space set s associated with CORESET p to support multicastdata or control message to a group of UEs, for example a CSS set or aUGSS set, the CCE indexes for aggregation level L corresponding to PDCCHcandidate m_(s,n) _(CI) of the search space set in slot n_(s,f) ^(μ) fora serving cell corresponding to carrier indicator field value n_(CI)(also referred to as search space) are given as in Equation 2

$\begin{matrix}{{L \cdot \{ {( {Y_{p,n_{s,f}^{\mu}} + \lfloor \frac{m_{s,n_{CI}} \cdot N_{{CCE},p}}{L \cdot M_{s,\max}^{(L)}} \rfloor + n_{CI}} ){mod}\lfloor {N_{{CCE},p}/L} \rfloor} \}} + i} & ( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2} )\end{matrix}$

where:

Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) =(A_(p)·Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) ⁻¹) mod D;

Y_(p,−1)=n_(RNTI)≠0;

A_(p)=39827 for p mod 3=0;

A_(p)=39829 for p mod 3=1;

A_(p)=39839 for p mod 3=2;

D=65537;

i=0, ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ , L−1;

N_(CCE,p) is the number of CCEs, numbered from 0 to N_(CCE,p)−1, inCORESET p;

n_(CI) is the carrier indicator field value if the UE is configured witha carrier indicator field; otherwise, including for any CSS, n_(CI)=0;

m_(s,n) _(CI) =0, . . . , M_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L))−1, where M_(s,n) _(CI)^((L)) is the number of PDCCH candidates the UE is configured to monitorfor aggregation level L for a serving cell corresponding to n_(CI) andthe search space set s;

M_(s,max) ^((L)) is the maximum of M_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) across allconfigured n_(CI) values for a CCE aggregation level L of search spaceset S in control resource set p; and

the RNTI value used for n_(RNTI) is the RNTI used for scrambling the CRCfor associated DCI format monitored in the search space set, forexample, M-RNTI or G-RNTI as discussed in the embodiments directed tothe “determination of PDCCH assignment” embodiment and “group commonPDCCH for multicast in DL” embodiment of this disclosure.

A set of PDCCH candidates for a group of UEs to monitor can be definedin terms of a PDCCH search space set, for example a CSS set or a UGSSset. A UE can be configured to monitor up to N{circumflex over( )}SS_max>=1 search space set(s), wherein the search space sets can beCSS sets or UGSS sets. N{circumflex over ( )}SS_max can be predefined inthe specification of the system operation, such that, N{circumflex over( )}SS_max=10 or be additionally provided to a UE by UE-specific higherlayer signaling after the UE establishes an RRC connection. A UE canmonitor a DCI format for multicast data or control messages in any ofthe search space sets. The UE can determine the configuration of thesearch space set through any of the following two examples.

In one example, the search space set can be provided to the UE by systeminformation through RRC signaling in a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI formatwith CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI. The search space set configured through asystem information block (SIB) can be referred to as initial searchspace set, which is common to all UEs within the cell. The initialsearch space set can be a CSS set or a UGSS set.

In another example, the configuration can be provided to the UE throughRRC signaling in a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format that is detected in aPDCCH received in a preconfigured search space set, for example, initialcommon search space set configured by SIB. The UE can be provided with aRNTI for a DCI format that the UE attempts to detect by monitoring PDCCHin the preconfigured search space set.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart for determining a configuration of asearch space set from a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format in a searchspace set in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure.Operations of flowchart 900 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116in FIG. 3.

In operation 902, a configuration for an initial search space set isobtained through a SIB. The SIB can be obtained from a PDSCH scheduledby a DCI format with CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI. In operation 904, an RNTI(e.g., M-RNTI) is obtained via dedicated/UE-specific signaling formonitoring PDCCH in the initial search space set.

In operation 906, the PDCCH is monitored in the initial search spaceset. A determination is made in operation 908 as to whether a DCI formatwith CRC scrambled by a M-RNTI is detected. If the DCI format with CRCscrambled by the M-RNTI is not detected, then flowchart 900 returns tooperation 906 to continue monitoring. However, if at operation 908 thedetermination is made that the DCI format with CRC scrambled by theM-RNTI is detected, then flowchart 900 proceeds to operation 910 where aPDSCH scheduled by the DCI format is decoded to obtain configurationinformation for another search space set, such as for a new CSS set or anew UGSS set or for a previously configured search space set.

For each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE can beprovided, by higher layer signaling, with up to N_CORESETs_max>=1CORESETs associated with CSS sets for PDCCH monitoring. N_CORESETs_maxcan be fixed and defined in the specification of the system operation,such that N_CORESETs_max=3 or can be indicated by system information.For each CORESET, the UE can be provided with a configuration includingany parameter on CORESET configuration as defined in REF 3, and any ofthe following:

a DM-RS scrambling sequence initialization value, N_(ID). If N_(ID) isnot provided, N_(ID) can be determined based on a group CSS set ID,I_group; and

information for TCI state cycling for N_MO>=1 PDCCH monitoringoccasions, including a list of N>=1 TCI-states, L_TCIs={TCI-state_0,TCI-state_1, . . . , TCI-state_N−1} wherein a TCI state indicates quasico-location (QCL) information of the DM-RS antenna port for PDCCHreception in the respective CORESET, index of first TCI state fromL_TCIs to apply I_startTCI (0<=I_startTCI<N), and TCI state cyclinginterval N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_TCI (1<=N{circumflex over( )}MOs_TCI<=N) in terms of number of consecutive PDCCH monitoringoccasions. For example, the UE may assume that the TCI state for PDCCHmonitoring occasion with index i, (1=0, . . . , N_MOs−1) has TCI statewith index j (0<=j<N) from L_TCIs, such that j=floor(i/N{circumflex over( )}MOs_TCI)+I_startTCI.

For a CORESET associated with a search space set, if the UE has not beenprovided a configuration of TCI state list L_TCIs for the CORESET, theUE can assume that the DM-RS antenna port associated with ith PDCCHreception is quasi co-located with ith SS/PBCH block in the associatedactive BWP. If the UE has been provided with a configuration of TCIstate list L_TCIs, the UE can receive a MAC CE to indicate a new startTCI state to apply I_startTCI and/or TCI cycling interval N{circumflexover ( )}MOs_TCI. If the UE receives a MAC CE command to update thefirst TCI state and/or TCI cycling interval, the UE applies the commandN_delay msec after a slot where the UE transmits corresponding HARQ-ACKinformation in a PUCCH for the PDSCH providing the command. N_delay canbe defined in the specification of the system operation, for exampleN_delay=3 msec, and can be expressed in a number of PUCCH slots.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart for determining a TCI state of a CORESETassociated with PDCCH monitoring of a search space set in accordancewith various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart1000 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

In operation 1002, a configuration of a CORESET associated with a searchspace set for monitoring PDCCH is obtained.

In operation 1004 a determination is made as to whether theconfiguration includes information of TCI state cycling, such as a listof TCI states L_TCIs, first TCI state to apply I_startTCI, and TCI statecycling interval N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_TCI, for monitoring PDCCHover multiple PDCCH monitoring occasions. If the configuration includesthe information related to TCI state cycling, the UE makes a subsequentdetermination in operation 1006 as to whether the UE obtains a MAC CEcommand to update the start of the first TCI state to apply. If the MACCE command is obtained which indicates to update the first TCI state toapply, then the flowchart 800 proceeds to operation 1008 where the TCIstate is cycled for multiple consecutive PDCCH monitoring occasions withthe first TCI state and cycling interval indicated by the MAC CEcommand. For example, the UE cycles the TCI state every N{circumflexover ( )}MOs_TCI PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) starting from the firstTCI state to apply I_startTCI, where N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_TCI andI_startTCI are indicated by the MAC CE command.

Returning to operation 1004, if the determination is made that theconfiguration does not include information regarding TCI state cycling,flowchart 1000 proceeds to operation 1010 where the ith PDCCH monitoringoccasion is quasi co-located with the ith SS/PBCH block in the active DLBWP.

Returning to operation 1006, if the determination is made that a MAC CEcommand is not obtained which indicates a new start of TCI state or TCIstate cycling interval, then flowchart 1000 proceeds to operation 1012where the TCI state every N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_TCI PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) is cycled starting from the first TCI state to applyI_startTCI, where N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_TCI and I_startTCI areindicated by the configuration.

Multiple search space sets, for example multiple CSS sets, can bebundled together into a group with ID denoted as, I_group. For a DL BWPconfigured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE can be associated with upto N{circumflex over ( )} groups groups of search space sets, where eachgroup of search space sets is associated with at least one search spaceset. N{circumflex over ( )} groups can be fixed and predefined in thespecification of the system operation, such that N{circumflex over ( )}groups=3 or N{circumflex over ( )} groups=2. A UE can determine theassociated search space set group ID, I_group, through one of thefollowing two examples:

In a first example, I_group can be provided to the UE through UEspecific higher layer signaling. The IDs of corresponding CSS setsassociated with the group can be provided to the UE together withI_group. A UE can be provided with an UE ID, I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID, associated with the search space set group, I_group.

In a second example, I_group can be derived from a UE ID, I{circumflexover ( )}UE_ID. For example, I_group=mod(floor(I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID/c1), c2), where c1 and c2 are integers, and can be eitherdefined in the specification of the system operation, for example, c1=1,c2=8, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling, for example,any of c1/c2 can be a number of UE groups configured by gNB.

In one sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over ( )}UE_IDcan be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

In another sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID can be a SAE Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (s-TMSI).

In yet another sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID can be a C-RNTI.

Multiple search space sets, for example multiple UGSS sets, can beassociated with a UE group, denoted as I_UG. For a DL BWP configured toa UE in a serving cell, the UE can be associated with up to N{circumflexover ( )}UGs UE groups, where each UE group is associated with at leastone search space set. N{circumflex over ( )}UGs can be fixed andpredefined in the specification of the system operation, such thatN{circumflex over ( )}UGs=3. A UE can determine the associated UE groupID, I_UG, through one of the following two examples:

In a first example, I_UG can be provided to the UE through UE specifichigher layer signaling. The IDs of corresponding search space setsassociated with the group can be provided to the UE together with I_UG.A UE can be provided with an UE ID, I{circumflex over ( )}UE_ID, withinthe UE group, I_UG.

In a second example, I_group can be derived from a UE ID, I{circumflexover ( )}UE_ID. For example, I_group=mod(floor(I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID/c1), c2), where c1 and c2 are integers, and can be eitherdefined in the specification of the system operation, for example, c1=1,c2=8, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling, for example,any of c1/c2 can be a number of UE groups configured by gNB.

In one sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over ( )}UE_IDcan be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);

In another sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID can be a SAE Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (s-TMSI);

In yet another sub-example of the second example, I{circumflex over( )}UE_ID can be a C-RNTI.

For a search space set, the UE can be provided with a configurationincluding any parameter on search space configuration as defined inREF3, and any of the following:

an associated a search space set group ID, I_group;

an associated UE group ID, I_UG;

a search space type, which can be USS or CSS or UGSS;

an indication of DCI-formats to monitor PDCCH candidates in the searchspace set, for example, to monitor for DCI format_X_0, which can be aDCI format with a smallest size among DCI formats for which the UEmonitors PDCCH and is carried by PDCCH in a CSS set;

an indicator of repetition I_rep, where I_rep can be a binary bit of abit-map to indicate whether or not (‘0’ value or ‘1’ value) a PDCCHmonitoring occasion, from a number of consecutive PDCCH monitoringoccasions within a periodicity for PDCCH monitoring, is used for arepetition of a PDCCH with a same DCI format; and

a number of PDCCH candidates M_(s) ^((L)) per CCE aggregation level L byany of aggregationLevel1, aggregationLevel2, aggregationLevel4,aggregationLevel8, aggregationLevel16, aggregationLevel32, andaggregationLevel64 for CCE aggregation level 1, CCE aggregation level 2,CCE aggregation level 4, CCE aggregation level 8, and CCE aggregationlevel 16, CCE aggregation level 32, CCE aggregation level 64respectively. Higher aggregation levels, such as CCE aggregation level32 or 64, or larger number of PDCCH candidates can be considered for aCSS/UGSS set compared with USS set or a CSS set that is configured by aUE-specific higher layer signaling.

For a configured search space set, the search space set can be activatedor deactivated via L1 signaling such as a DCI format, or higher layersignaling such as a MAC CE command. To reduce a signaling overhead, oneof the following approaches can be considered.

In a first approach, the search space sets associated with a searchspace set group, I_group, can be (de)activated simultaneously. Forexample, an MAC CE deactivation command can indicate to a UE todeactivate of all search space sets associated with a search space setgroup, I_group. If the UE receives a MAC CE command to (de)activate aCSS set or all CSS sets associated with a search space set group,I_group, the UE applies the command N_delay msec after a slot where theUE transmits HARQ-ACK information for the PDSCH providing the command.N_delay can be defined in the specification of the system operation, forexample N_delay=3 msec and can be in a number of slots for a PUCCHtransmission. If the UE receives a L1 signal/channel to (de)activate asearch space set or all search space sets associated with a search spaceset group, I_group, the UE applies the adaptation N_delay msec or slotsafter a slot where the UE receives the adaptation request. N_delay canbe defined in the specification of the system operation, for exampleN_delay=1 or 2.

In a second approach, the search space sets associated with a UE group,I_UG, can be (de)activated simultaneously. For example, an MAC CEdeactivation command can indicate to a UE to deactivate of all searchspace sets associated with a UE group, I_UG. If the UE receives a MAC CEcommand to (de)activate a search space set or all search space setsassociated with a UE group, I_UG, the UE applies the command N_delaymsec after a slot where the UE transmits HARQ-ACK information for thePDSCH providing the command. N_delay can be defined in the specificationof the system operation, for example N_delay=3 msec and can be in anumber of slots for a PUCCH transmission. If the UE receives a L1signal/channel to (de)activate a search space set or all search spacesets associated with a UE group, I_UG, the UE applies the adaptationN_delay msec or slots after a slot where the UE receives the adaptationrequest. N_delay can be defined in the specification of the systemoperation, for example N_delay=1 or 2.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart for monitoring a search space set inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 1100 can be implemented in a UE such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1100 begins at operation 1102 by obtaining one or moreconfigurations of a search space set for PDCCH monitoring by higherlayer signaling.

In operation 1104 a determination is made as to whether a MAC CE commandis received to deactivate a group of search space sets associated with asearch set group ID, I_group. If the MAC CE command is received todeactivate a group of search space sets associated with the search spaceset group ID, I_group, then the flowchart proceeds to operation 1106 andmonitoring is stopped for all search space sets associated with I_groupand the corresponding configurations are dropped. In a non-limitingembodiment, when the UE receives a MAC CE command to deactivate a searchspace set group, I_group, the UE can stop monitoring all search spacesets associated with I_group, N_delay msec after a slot on which the UEtransmits a PUCCH with HARQ-ACK information for the PDSCH providing thedeactivation command.

Flowchart 1100 continues to operation 1108 where monitoring of PDCCHcontinues in the configured search space sets that are still active.

Returning to operation 1104, if a MAC CE command is not obtained whichdeactivates a group of search space sets associated with a group IDI_group, then flowchart 1100 proceeds from operation 1104 directly tooperation 1108.

Regarding blind decoding in each PDCCH monitoring occasion for eachscheduled cell, the UE is not required to monitor on the active DL BWPwith SCS configuration μ of the scheduling cell more than min(M_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ), M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)) PDCCH candidates or more thanmin(C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ), C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)) non-overlappedCCEs per slot, where M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)are maximum number of monitored PDCCH candidates per slot and maximumnumber of non-overlapped CCEs for a DL BWP with SCS configuration μ asdefined in REF 3, respectively. Further, M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) andC_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) are total number of monitored PDCCH candidatesper slot and total number of non-overlapped CCEs for configured activesearch space set in the DL BWP with SCS configuration μ as defined inREF 3, respectively. For all activated search space sets within a slot,denote by S_(CSS) a set of CSS sets with cardinality of I_(CSS), byS_(USS) a set of USS sets with cardinality of J_(USS), and by S_(UGSS) aset of UGSS sets with cardinality of J_(UGSS). The location of USS setsS_(j), 0≤S_(j)<J_(USS), in S_(USS) is according to an ascending order ofthe search space set index. The location of UGSS sets S_(k),0≤S_(k)<J_(UGSS), in S_(UGSS) is according to an ascending order of thesearch space set index. Denote by M_(S) _(ccs) _((i)) ^((L)),0≤i<I_(css), the number of configured PDCCH candidates for CSS setS_(css)(i) and by M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)), 0≤j<L_(uss), the number ofconfigured PDCCH candidates for USS set S_(uss)(j). For the CSS sets, aUE monitors M_(PDCCH) ^(CSS)=Σ_(i=0) ^(I) ^(css) ⁻¹Σ_(L)M_(S) _(css)_((i)) ^((L)) PDCCH candidates requiring a total of C_(PDCCH) ^(CSS)non-overlapping CCEs in a slot. Denote by M_(S) _(UGSS) _((k)) ^((L)),0≤k<I_(UGSS), the number of configured PDCCH candidates for UGSS setS_(UGSS)(k) and by M_(S) _(UGSS) _((j))(L), 0≤k<J_(UGSS), the number ofconfigured PDCCH candidates for UGSS set S_(UGSS)(k). For the UGSS sets,a UE monitors M_(PDCCH) ^(UGSS)=Σ_(k=0) ^(I) ^(UGSS) ⁻¹Σ_(L)M_(S)_(UGSS) _((k)) ^((L)) PDCCH candidates requiring a total of C_(PDCCH)^(UGSS) non-overlapping CCEs in a slot. The UE allocates monitored PDCCHcandidates to USS sets for the primary cell having an active DL BWP withSCS configuration μ in slot n according to the following pseudocode. AUE does not expect to monitor PDCCH in a USS set without monitored PDCCHcandidates. Denote by V_(CCE)(S_(USS)(i)) the set of non-overlappingCCEs for search space set S_(USS)(j) and by

(V_(CCE) (S_(USS)(j))) the cardinality of V_(CCE)(S_(USS)(j)) where thenon-overlapping CCEs for search space set S_(USS)(j) are determinedconsidering the monitored PDCCH candidates for the activated CSS setsand the monitored PDCCH candidates for all activated search space setsS_(USS)(k), 0≤k<j.

The previously mentioned pseudocode is as follows:

Set M_(PDCCH) ^(USS) = min(M_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot, μ), M_(PDCCH)^(total, slot, μ)) − M_(PDCCH) ^(CSS) − M_(PDCCH) ^(UGSS) Set C_(PDCCH)^(USS) = min(C_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot, μ), C_(PDCCH) ^(total, slot, μ)) −C_(PDCCH) ^(CSS) − C_(PDCCH) ^(UGSS) Set j = 0 while ΣL M_(S) _(uss)_((j)) ^((L)) ≤ M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) AND C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j))) ≤ C_(PDCCH)^(uss)  allocate ΣL M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)) monitored PDCCHcandidates to USS set S_(uss)(j);  M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) -ΣL M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L));  C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) −C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j)));  j = j + 1 ; end while.

Group Common PDCCH for Multicast in DL

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers a type of PDCCH that aUE monitors in a search space, for example a CSS or a UGSS, and providesa DCI format scheduling PDSCH multicast to a group of UEs. This type ofPDCCH is referred to as Type1-PDCCH in this disclosure. Type1-PDCCH canbe monitored at least for UE in RRC_CONNECTED state.

A UE can be provided by higher layers a RNTI that scrambles the CRC ofthe DCI format transmitted in Type1-PDCCH. The RNTI is referred asM-RNTI in this disclosure. A UE can determine the M-RNTI associated withType1-PDCCH monitoring through one of the following:

in one example, M-RNTI can be provided to the UE throughUE-specific/dedicated RRC signaling;

in another example, M-RNTI can be provided to the UE through UE-commonRRC signaling, for example in system information, for another example,in a TB through a multicast PDSCH scheduled by Type1-PDCCH; and

in yet another example, M-RNTI can be provided to the UE through a MACCE in a PDSCH.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart for receiving a multicast TB scheduledby a Type1-PDCCH in a search space set t in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 1200 can beimplemented in a UE such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1200 begins at operation 1202 by obtaining a configuration onsearch space set for monitoring a Typ1_PDCCH and M-RNTI. In anon-limiting embodiment, the configuration on the search space set is aCSS set or a UGSS.

In operation 1204, monitoring for a DCI format with CRC scrambled byM-RNTI is performed. A determination is made in operation 1206 as towhether the DCI format with CRC scrambled by M-RNTI is detected. If theDCI format with CRC scrambled by M-RNTI is not detected, then flowchart1200 returns to operation 1204. However, if the DCI format with CRCscrambled by M-RNTI is not detected, then flowchart 1200 proceeds tooperation 1208 where multicast PDSCH scheduled by the DCI format isdecoded. In one embodiment, a UE decodes a TB in scheduled PDSCH basedon the DL assignment/grant from the detected DCI format.

The DCI format with CRC scrambled by M-RNTI, that is used for schedulinga PDSCH to through Type1-PDCCH in search space set, can include anyfield in DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1 in REF 2 and any of thefollowing five fields.

A first field is a number of repetitions for the scheduled multicastPDSCH, N_rep. N_rep indicates a TB in scheduled PDSCH is repeated inN_rep slots. The N_rep slots can be consecutive such as for FDDoperation or non-consecutive such as for TDD operation where slots thatdo not include, based on a higher layer configuration for a number ofslots that repeats in time, a number of DL symbols indicated by the DCIformat for PDSCH reception are skipped.

A second field is a carrier indicator field,n_(CI), which is the carrierindicator field value if the UE is configured with a carrier indicatorfield.

A third field is a redundancy version (RV) for the first repetition,I_RV_first, which can be 2 bits and indicate a value from apredetermined list, for example, L_RV={0, 1, 2, 3}. The index of RV fromthe list for the ith repetition can be floor(i/4)+I_RV_firstAlternatively, the first repetition can always be transmitted with thefirst RV from the list, i.e. 0, and a corresponding indication can beomitted in the DCI format.

A fourth field is a TB counter, n_TB. n_TB=0, 1, . . . , N_TBs−1, whereN_TBs is the maximum value of TB counter, and N_TBs can either beprovided to the UE through higher layer signaling or defined in thespecification of the system operation, for example, N_TB=8.

A fifth field is a HARQ feedback type, n_harq_type. n_harq_type can be abinary value to indicate UE need to feedback positive acknowledgement(ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK) information. This indicationcan alternatively be provided to the UE by higher layer signaling.

For HARQ-ACK feedback, a UE can transmit a sequence, d(n), to indicateeither positive acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK)in response to success or failure, respectively, for detecting the TB inthe scheduled PDSCH. The sequence can be low PAPR sequence as defined asr_(u,v) ^((α,δ))(n)=e^(jαn) r _(u,v)(n), 0≤n<M_(ZC) in REF 1, where u,and v are the group number and base sequence number with in the group,respectively. A UE can determine u and v through one of the followingtwo examples.

In a first example, u and v can be associated with a UE ID, I_UE. Forexample, μ=mod(└I_(UE)/C1┘*c2+c3, 30), v=mod(I_(UE), c1), where c1, c2and c3 are integers, e.g. c1 is the number of base sequence per sequencegroup, c2=1, c3=0.

In one sub-example of the first example, I{circumflex over ( )}UE can bean International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

In another sub-example of the first example, I{circumflex over ( )}UEcan be a SAE Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (s-TMSI);

In yet another sub-example of the first example, I{circumflex over( )}UE can be a C-RNTI.

In yet another sub-example of the first example, I{circumflex over( )}UE can be provided to UE through higher layer signaling along withCSS set group ID, I_group.

In a second example, u and v can be associated with C-RNTI. For example,μ=mod(└n_(rnti)/c1┘*c2+c3, 30), v=mod(n_(rnti), c1), where c1, c2 and c3are integers, e.g. c1 is the number of base sequence per sequence group,c2=1, c3=0, n_(rnti) is C-RNTI.

The slot n for UE to feedback ACK or NACK information can be determinedby the dynamic K1 in the scheduling DCI, such that n=n_PDSCH+K1, wheren_PDSCH is the last/first slot index.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart for transmitting HARQ-ACK informationfor a multicast TB based on Type1-PDCCH in a search space set inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 1300 can be implemented in a UE such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1300 begins at operation 1302 by detecting a DCI format withCRC scrambled by M-RNTI for scheduling a PDSCH in a search space set,for example a CSS set or a UGSS set.

In operation 1304, a determination is made as to whether decoding on thescheduled PDSCH has failed. If decoding on the scheduled PDSCH hasfailed, then flowchart 1300 proceeds to operation 1306 where a low PAPRsequence is transmitted to feedback NACK, if indicated by the DCIformat. When the UE is indicated by the detected DCI format, or isconfigured by higher layers, to transmit NACK when the UE fails todecode the TB in the scheduled PDSCH, the UE then transmits a sequencein a slot n to indicate a NACK such that n=n_PDSCH+K1, where n_PDSCH isthe first/last scheduled PDSCH repetition and K1 is a time offsetindicated in the DCI format or configured by higher layers.

If decoding on the scheduled PDSCH has not failed, then flowchart 1300proceeds to operation 1308 where a low PAPR sequence is transmitted tofeedback HARQ-ACK, if indicated by the DCI format. When the UE isindicated by the detected DCI format or is configured by higher layersto transmit an ACK when the succeeds in decoding the TB in the scheduledPDSCH, the UE transmits a sequence in a slot n to indicate an ACK, suchthat n=n_PDSCH+K1, where n_PDSCH is the first/last scheduled PDSCHrepetition and K1 is time offset indicated in the DCI format.

Group-Common PDCCH for Control Signaling

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers a type of PDCCHmonitored in search space, for example CSS or UGSS, for multicastingcommon control information to UEs. This type of PDCCH is referred asType2-PDCCH in this disclosure. The control information can at least beused to trigger adaptation in configured transmission or receptions fora UE such as, for example, for indicating a switching of power savingstates/modes, where multiple power saving states/modes can bepreconfigured through higher layer signaling or for triggering a UE togo-to-sleep or to skip PDCCH monitoring for a period of time.Type2-PDCCH can be monitored at least for UE in RRC_CONNECTED state.

A UE can be configured by higher layers a RNTI that is used to scramblethe CRC of the DCI format provided by the Type2-PDCCH. The RNTI isreferred to as G-RNTI in this disclosure. It is 0<G-RNTI<2{circumflexover ( )}N_bits−1, where N_bits is the size of G-RNTI, N_bits can beeither defined in the specification of the system operation, forexample, N_bits=16 or 24, or provided to the UE through higher layersignaling. A UE can be provided a G-RNTI associated with Type2-PDCCHmonitoring through any of the following three examples.

In a first example, G-RNTI can be provided to the UE through dedicatedRRC signaling.

In a second example, G-RNTI can be provided to the UE through UE-commonRRC signaling, for example in system information, for another example,in a TB through a multicast PDSCH scheduled by Type1-PDCCH.

In a third example, G-RNTI can be provided to the UE through a MAC CE.

The DCI format with CRC scrambled by G-RNTI can include one or more ofthe following fields: power saving states/modes indicator, short messageindicator, frequency domain resource assignment, time domain resourceassignment, VRB-to-PRB mapping, modulation and coding scheme, and TBscaling. Each of these fields are discussed in more detail in theparagraphs that follow.

The power saving states/modes indicator field, I_PSM, has N1 bits, whereN1 can be provided to the UE through higher layer signaling or bedefined in the specification of the system operation, such as N1=2.I_PSM can indicate to the UE switch to the I_PSM th configured powersaving state/mode. The 2{circumflex over ( )}N1 power savingstates/modes can be associated with different power saving schemes, andprovided to UE through higher layer signaling.

The short message indicator field, shortMessageOnly, can have a binaryvalue that indicates to the UE whether or not the control information inthe DCI format schedules a PDSCH reception or a PUSCH transmission. Whenthe DCI format provides only control information without scheduling aPDSCH reception or a PUSCH transmission, the UE can always process thecontrol information in the DCI format. Otherwise, when the DCI formatschedules a PDSCH reception, the UE receives the PDSCH and processesboth the control information and the TB. In one example, the scheduledTB can indicate a subset of the group of UEs that monitors the DCIformat as applicable UEs that need apply the adaptation requestindicated by the control information. In this case, the UE_ID,I{circumflex over ( )}UE, can be carried in the TB of the scheduledPDSCH.

In one embodiment, I{circumflex over ( )}UE can be an InternationalMobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). In another embodiment, I{circumflexover ( )}UE can be a SAE Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (s-TMSI).In yet another embodiment, I{circumflex over ( )}UE can be a C-RNTI. Inyet another embodiment, I{circumflex over ( )}UE can be provided to UEthrough higher layer signaling along with CSS set group ID, I_group.

The frequency domain resource assignment field can have ┌log₂(N_(RB)^(DL,BWP) (N_(RB) ^(DL,BWP)+1)/2)┐ bits. If the DCI format provides onlythe short message, this bit field is reserved or can be reinterpretedfor another purpose. N_(RB) ^(DL,BWP) is the size (in RBs) of theassociated CORESET for the PDCCH reception or of an active DL BWP forthe UE.

The time domain resource assignment field can have 4 bits as defined inSubclause 5.1.2.1 of REF 4. If the DCI format provides only the shortmessage, this bit field is reserved or can be reinterpreted for anotherpurpose.

The VRB-to-PRB mapping field can have 1 bit according to Table7.3.1.1.2-33 in REF 2. If the DCI format provides only the shortmessage, this bit field is reserved or can be reinterpreted for anotherpurpose. It is also possible for the mapping to be predetermined andthis field to not exist.

The modulation and coding scheme field can have 5 bits as defined inSubclause 5.1.3 of REF 4, using Table 5.1.3.1-1, or another configurablenumber of bits. If the DCI format provides only the short message, thisbit field is reserved or can be reinterpreted for another purpose.

The TB scaling field can have 2 bits as defined in Subclause 5.1.3.2 ofREF4. If the DCI format provides only the short message, this bit fieldis reserved or can be reinterpreted for another purpose.

FIG. 14 illustrates flowchart for receiving control information based onType2-PDCCH in a search space set in accordance with various embodimentsof this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 1400 can be implemented in aUE such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1400 begins at operation 1402 by obtaining configuration onsearch space set for monitoring Type2-PDCCH and a corresponding RNTI.The configuration on the search space set can be a CSS set or a UGSS setfor monitoring Type2-PDCCH, and a corresponding RNTI, e.g., a G-RNTI. Inoperation 1404, monitoring for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by G-RNTIis performed.

A determination is made in operation 1406 as to whether a DCI formatwith CRC scrambled by G-RNTI is detected. If the DCI format with CRCscrambled with G-RNTI is not detected, then flowchart 1400 returns tooperation 1404. However, if the DCI format with CRC scrambled withG-RNTI is detected, then flowchart 1400 proceeds to operation 1408 wherea subsequent determination is made as to whether the DCI format providesonly short messages.

If, in operation 1408, the determination is made that only shortmessages are provided in the DCI format, then flowchart 1400 proceeds tooperation 1410 where adaptation indicated by the control information isperformed. However, if the determination is made that the DCI formatdoes not provide only short messages, then flowchart 1400 proceeds tooperation 1412 where a scheduled PDSCH is decoded. In one embodiment,the DCI format does not provide only short messages when it providesboth short messages and scheduling information.

In operation 1414 a determination is made as to whether the UE is one ofthe applicable UEs indicated by the decoded PDSCH, i.e., whether theinformation in the decoded TB in the PDSCH is applicable to the UE. Ifthe UE is one of the applicable UEs indicated by the decoded PDSCH,i.e., the information in the decoded TB indicates that the controlinformation in the DCI format is applicable to the UE, then flowchart1400 proceeds to operation 1418 where the adaption indicated in thecontrol information is performed. However, if the UE is not one of theapplicable UEs indicated by the decoded PDSCH, then flowchart 1400proceeds to operation 1416 and the adaptation request indicated in theDCI is ignored.

Transmission Enhancement Schemes

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers enhancements for PDCCHtransmissions in a search space set, for example a CSS set or a UGSSset, including support of repetitions and multi-beam operation andmulti-slot scheduling.

A UE is configured to monitor PDCCH in a search space set. The UE candetermine PDCCH monitoring occasions on an active DL BWP fromconfiguration information for the associated search space set, includingthe PDCCH monitoring periodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and thePDCCH monitoring pattern within a slot. The UE determines that a PDCCHmonitoring occasion(s) in search space set s exists in a slot withnumber n_(s,f) ^(μ) REF1 in a frame with number n_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot)^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f) ^(μ)−o_(s)) mod k_(s)=0. When a UE is configured tomonitor a DCI format in search space set s, with duration T_(s), the UEmonitors the DCI format in search space set s for T_(s) consecutiveslots, starting from slot n_(s,f) ^(μ), and does not monitor the DCIformat in search space set s for the next k_(s)−T_(s) consecutive slots.

The UE can determine a number of PDCCH monitoring occasions in a searchspace set per a PDCCH monitoring periodicity, N_MOs, according to theconfigured duration, T_(s), and PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slotof associated search space set s, such that N_MOs=T_(s)*N{circumflexover ( )}MOs_slot, where N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_slot is the number ofPDCCH monitoring occasions within a slot indicated by the configuredPDCCH monitoring pattern, or the number of start OFDM symbol within aslot associated with search space set s.

When the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions within a periodicity,N_MOs, is larger than one, the UE can expect only same content for a DCIformat transmitted over the N_MOs PDCCH monitoring occasions. Inmulti-beam operation, the UE can determine the QCL assumptions (TCIstates for the CORESET) for the N_MOs>1 PDCCH monitoring occasionsthrough one of the following three examples.

In a first example, the UE can assume that the TCI state for the CORESETof the PDCCH transmission with the DCI format changes every C1monitoring occasions within a PDCCH periodicity. In this case, themaximum of ┌N_MOs/C1┐ different TCI states can be transparent to the UE.Alternatively, the UE can be provided with a list of ┌N_MOs/C1┐ TCIstates through higher layer signaling to indicate the QCL assumption ofthe ┌N_MOs/C1┐ subset of PDCCH monitoring occasions wherein the ith(i=0, 1, . . . , ┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) TCI state from the list indicate the QCLassumption for the ith (i=0, 1, . . . , ┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) subset withmaximum of C1 monitoring occasions. C1 is a positive integer, and can beeither defined in the specification, e.g. C1=1, or be provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

In a second example, the UE can assume that the TCI state for theCORESET of the PDCCH transmission with the DCI format cycles every C1monitoring occasions within a PDCCH periodicity. In this case, a UE canbe provided with a list of ┌N_MOs/C1┐ TCI states by higher layersignaling and the UE can be provided with the index of the first TCIstate, I_0, by higher layer signaling. The UE can determine the QCLassumption for the ith (i=0, 1, . . . , ┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) subset of maximumof C1 monitoring occasions based on I_0, such that the (I_0+i)th TCIstate from the list indicate the QCL assumption for the ith subset ofmaximum of C1 monitoring occasions. I_0 can be reconfigured by a MAC CE.C1 is a positive integer, and can be either be defined in thespecification, e.g. C1=1, or be provided to the UE through higher layersignaling.

In a third example, the UE can assume N_MOs equals to the number ofactual transmitted SS/PBCH blocks determined according tossb-PositionsInBurst in SIB1. The ith PDCCH monitoring occasion for theDCI format within a periodicity corresponds to the ith transmittedSS/PBCH block and is QCLed (has same TCI state) with the ith transmittedSS/PBCH block. The QCL type between the ith transmitted SS/PBCH blockand the ith PDCCH monitoring occasion can beQCL-TypeA/QCL-TypeB/QCL-TypeC/QCL-TypeD and can be provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

A DCI format, such as DCI format with CRC scrambled by M-RNTI, can beused to schedule N_TBs>=1 TBs over M_slots>=N_TBs slots. This scheme isreferred as multi-slot scheduling. The M_slots can be can be consecutivesuch as for FDD operation or non-consecutive such as for TDD operationwhere slots that do not include, based on a higher layer configurationfor a number of slots that repeats in time, a number of DL symbolsindicated by the DCI format for PDSCH reception are skipped. Any ofN_TBs/M_slots can be either indicated by the DCI format or provided tothe UE through higher layer signaling.

For HARQ-ACK feedback for multi-slot scheduling, the UE can feedbackHARQ-ACK for the N_TBs TBs jointly. In this case, when the UE isindicated by a DCI format or higher layer signaling to feedback NACK,the UE transmits a NACK to the gNB if the UE fails on decoding any ofthe N_TBs. When the UE is indicated to by a DCI format or higher layersignaling to feedback ACK, UE transmits an ACK to gNB only if the UEdecodes all the N_TBs TBs correctly.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart for receiving multiple TBs scheduled bya DCI format in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure.Operations of flowchart 1500 can be implemented in a UE such as UE 116in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1500 begins at operation 1502 by monitoring for a DCI formatthat supports multi-slot scheduling. For example, the DCI format withCRC scrambled by M-RNTI in a search space set can be a CSS set or a UGSSset. In operation 1504, a determination is made as to whether the DCIformat to schedule N_TBs TBs in M_slots slots is detected. If a DCIformat that supports multi-slot scheduling is not detected, thenflowchart 1500 returns to operation 1502. However, if the DCI formatthat supports multi-slot scheduling is detected, i.e., a DCI format thatschedules N_TBs TBs over M_slots slots in the search space set, thenflowchart 1500 proceeds to operation 1506 to make a determination as towhether N_TBs TBs in the scheduled PDSCH over M_slots is correctlydecoded.

If all the N_TBs TBs in the scheduled PDSCH is decoded correctly, thenflowchart 1500 proceeds to operation 1508 and a sequence to feedback ACKis transmitted if indicated by the DCI format. When the UE is indicatedby the detected DCI format or is configured by higher layers to transmitan ACK when the succeeds in decoding all TBs in the scheduled PDSCHs,the UE transmits a sequence in a slot n to indicate an ACK, such thatn=n_PDSCH+K1, where n_PDSCH is the first/last scheduled PDSCH for thereception of the N_TB TBs and K1 is time offset indicated in the DCIformat.

If, at operation 1506, the determination is made that the UE fails tocorrectly decode any TB of the N_TBs TBs in the scheduled PDSCHs,flowchart 1500 proceeds to operation 1510 where a sequence to feedbackNACK is transmitted if indicated by the DCI format. When the UE isindicated by the detected DCI format, or is configured by higher layers,to transmit NACK when the UE fails to decode any TB in the scheduledPDSCH, the UE then transmits a sequence in a slot n to indicate a NACKsuch that n=n_PDSCH+K1, where n_PDSCH is the first/last scheduled PDSCHfor the reception of the N_TB TBs and K1 is a time offset indicated inthe DCI format or configured by higher layers.

Determination of the Configuration of Activated Search Space Sets

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers determination of theconfiguration of an activated search space set when a UE adaptation forPDCCH monitoring in the search space set through a physical layersignal/channel is enabled. The UE adaptation can at least be(de)activation of configured search space set(s); (de)activation ofCORESETs; and update on one or more configuration parameter(s) persearch space set/CORESET, such as CCE ALs or PDCCH candidates per CCEAL. When an indication for (de)activation of a CORESET, or of a searchspace set, is provided by a DCI format, the DCI format is monitored ordetected in a search space set that cannot be deactivated.

A UE can determine the search space sets applicable for PDCCH monitoringadaptation triggered by a physical layer signal/channel through one ofthe following exemplary methods.

In a first method of determining the search space sets applicable forPDCCH monitoring adaptation triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, the applicable search space sets can be defined in thespecification of the system operation. For example, the applicablesearch space sets can be any USS sets configured, as described in REF 5,by SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config with searchSpaceType=ue-Specific for DCIformats with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI, SP-CSI-RNTI, orCS-RNTI(s). In another example, the applicable search space sets can beany Type3-PDCCH CSS set configured by SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config withsearchSpaceType=common for DCI formats with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI,MCS-C-RNTI, or CS-RNTI(s) for the primary cell.

In a second method of determining the search space sets applicable forPDCCH monitoring adaptation triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, the applicable search space sets can be indicated by RRCsignaling along with the configuration of the search space sets orassociated CORESETs. For example, a RRC parameter along with theconfiguration of the search space set can indicate whether or not PDCCHmonitoring in this search space set can be adapted by a physical layersignal/channel. A UE is not expected to be configured to supportadaptation to any of the following search space sets:

a Type0-PDCCH CSS set configured by pdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB or bysearchSpaceSIB1 in PDCCH-ConfigCommon or by searchSpaceZero inPDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a SI-RNTI onthe primary cell of the MCG;

a Type0A-PDCCH CSS set configured by searchSpaceOtherSystemInformationin PDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a SI-RNTIon the primary cell of the MCG;

a Type1-PDCCH CSS set configured by ra-SearchSpace in PDCCH-ConfigCommonfor a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a RA-RNTI or a TC-RNTI on theprimary cell; or

a Type2-PDCCH CSS set configured by pagingSearchSpace inPDCCH-ConfigCommon for a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a P-RNTI onthe primary cell of the MCG.

In a third method of determining the search space sets applicable forPDCCH monitoring adaptation triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, the index of applicable search space set can be carriedin the physical layer signal/channel that triggers PDCCH monitoringadaptation.

In a fourth method of determining the search space sets applicable forPDCCH monitoring adaptation triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, the CORESET associated with applicable search spaceset(s) can be indicated by RRC signaling. For example, a RRC parameteralong with the configuration of the CORESET that the applicable searchspace set(s) are associated with can indicate whether or not PDCCHmonitoring in the associated search space set(s) can be adapted by aphysical layer signal/channel.

The value for any configuration parameter related to applicable searchspace set(s) indicated by a physical layer signal/channel overrides thevalue for the configuration parameter provided by RRC signaling.

For (de)activation on search space sets triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, any of the following methods can be supported.

In a first method of (de)activation of search space set(s), the searchspace sets associated with a CORESET can be activated or deactivatedsimultaneously by indicating the activated or deactivated CORESET ID.For an activated CORESET, when a UE is provided a deactivationindication by a signal/channel at the physical layer, the UE assumesthat all applicable search space sets associated with the CORESET aredeactivated and the UE can skip monitoring PDCCH candidates in theassociated search space sets. For a deactivated CORESET, when a UE isprovided an activation indication by a physical layer signal/channel,the UE assumes that all search space sets associated with the CORESETare activated and the UE monitors PDCCH candidates in the associatedsearch space sets.

In a second method of (de)activation of search space set(s), theapplicable search space sets can be activated/deactivatedsimultaneously. For example, a binary bit carried in the physical layersignal/channel can be used to indicate whether or not all applicablesearch space set is activated.

In a third method of (de)activation of search space set(s), theapplicable search space sets can be (de)activated independently orseparately. For example, the applicable search space sets can be dividedinto N>=1 groups, and each of the group consists of at least oneapplicable search space set. A bitmap in size of N can be carried in thephysical layer signal. The nth (1<=n<=N) bit indicates whether or notthe nth group of search space set(s) are activated or deactivated. Inanother example, a physical layer single/channel can indicate the searchspace set group ID or search space set ID that is activated ordeactivated. A UE can switch search space sets for PDCCH monitoringbased on an activation and deactivation indication for correspondingsearch space set groups. For example, when the UE receives a DCI formatincludes a field for a search space set group ID, the UE starts orcontinues monitoring PDCCH in search space sets that are associated withthe search space set group, and does not monitor or stops monitoringPDCCH in search space sets that are not associated with the search spaceset group.

In a fourth method of (de)activation of search space set(s), theactivation and deactivation can be indicated by the detection of aphysical layer signal/channel, for example, a DCI format with CRCscrambled by a power saving RNTI, e.g. PS-RNTI. In one example, whendetection of the physical layer signal indicates the activation ofapplicable search space set(s), the payload of the DCI format can beused to indicate UE adaptation on other aspects, such as PDCCHmonitoring periodicity or blind decoding capability or minimumscheduling offset. When detection of the physical layer signal indicatesthe deactivation of applicable search space set(s), the payload of theDCI format can be used to indicate the effective duration ordeactivation period. In another example, when a UE detects a DCI formatindicating activation or deactivation of search space sets, the UEstarts or continues monitoring PDCCH for search space sets that areassociated with a search space set group with ID of X, and does notmonitor or stops monitoring PDCCH in search space sets that areassociated with another search space set group with ID of Y. The searchspace set groups can be either defined in the specification of systemoperation, for example, X=0, Y=1, or X=1, Y=0, or provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

For determination of an effective time that the associated search spaceset(s) is deactivated/activated, any of the following methods can besupported.

In a first method of determination of activation or deactivationduration, the activation or deactivation duration can be unlimited, andthe UE can activate or deactivate an applicable search space set whenthe UE receives an activation or deactivation indication, respectively.

In a second method of determination of activation or deactivationduration, the effective duration for activation or deactivation can bepreconfigured or predetermined by a UE. For example, through higherlayer signaling or defined in the specification of the system operation,e.g. 6 ms. In one example, the power saving signal/channel is detectedor monitored outside DRX ON duration, the deactivation or activationduration can be in the unit of DRX cycles. In another example, when thephysical layer signal/channel is monitored within the DRX Active Time orin RRC_CONNECTED state without DRX operation, the deactivation oractivation duration can be in the unit of one slot or one PDCCHmonitoring periodicity. The UE starts decrementing a timer with initialvalue of the effective duration after applying the activation ordeactivation indication. When the timer expires, the UE startsmonitoring PDCCH for search space sets that are deactivated for PDCCHmonitoring during the effective duration when the timer does not expire,and stops monitoring PDCCH in search space sets that are activated forPDCCH monitoring during the effective duration when the timer does notexpire.

In a third method of determination of activation or deactivationduration, the effective duration for an activation or deactivationindication can be carried by the physical layer signal/channel, forexample, a list of applicable values for the effective duration can beprovided to the UE through higher layer signaling, and a field of a DCIformat can indicate one of the applicable values. The applicable valuecan be unlimited or a non-zero integer. The UE starts decrementing atimer with initial value of the effective duration after applying theactivation or deactivation indication. When the timer expires, the UEstarts monitoring PDCCH for search space sets that are deactivated forPDCCH monitoring during the effective duration when the timer does notexpire, and stops monitoring PDCCH in search space sets that areactivated for PDCCH monitoring during the effective duration when thetimer does not expire.

For an adaptation on CCE aggregation levels (ALs) or a number ofcandidates per CCE AL for one or more applicable search space set(s),any of the following methods can be considered.

In a first method of adaptation on CCE aggregation levels (ALs) or anumber of candidates per CCE AL for one or more applicable search spaceset(s), a field of N>=1 bits can be carried in the PoSS, to indicateactivation or deactivation of configured ALs. In one example, N equalsto the number of RRC configured ALs, and each binary bit indicatesactivation or deactivation of one configured AL. In another example,N=1, the binary bit of 0 or 1 indicates activation of the first half orthe second half of the configured ALs.

In a second method of adaptation on CCE aggregation levels (ALs) or anumber of candidates per CCE AL for one or more applicable search spaceset(s), a scaling factor, c0, can be indicated by the PoSS, and thenumber of PDCCH candidates per AL, X, is scaled by c0, such thatX=ceil(X′*c0) or X=floor(X′*c0), where X′ is the number of PDCCHcandidates per AL before receiving the indication of c0 in a PoSS. Alist of applicable values can be provided to the UE either throughhigher level signaling or defined in the specification of systemoperation, for example, {0, 25%, 50%, 100%}.

For UE adaptation on PDCCH monitoring periodicity, T_PDCCH, forapplicable search space sets triggered by a physical layersignal/channel, referred as PoSS, any of the following methods can besupported.

In a first method of determination of T_PDCCH, a scaling factor, c2, forthe PDCCH monitoring periodicity adaptation can be indicated by a PoSS.The UE assumes the PDCCH monitoring periodicity, T_PDCCH, for applicablesearch space set(s), is T_PDCCH=floor(T′_PDCCH*c2) or ceil(T′_PDCCH*c2),where T′_PDCCH is the PDCCH monitoring periodicity before receiving theindication of c2 in a PoSS. A list of applicable values for c2 can bepreconfigured by higher layer signaling or defined in the specificationof the system operation, for example, {0, 25%, 50%, 100%}.

In a second method of determination of T_PDCCH, a list of N>=1applicable PDCCH monitoring periodicity can be preconfigured by RRCsignaling for applicable search space set(s). One of the applicablevalues is indicated by a PoSS, for example, a DCI field of ceil(log2(N)) can indicate one of the N applicable values. UE assume the PDCCHmonitoring periodicity T_PDCCH is the value indicated by the PoSS.

For UE adaptation on PDCCH monitoring duration, D_PDCCH, for applicablesearch space sets triggered by a physical layer signal/channel, referredas PoSS, any of the following methods can be supported.

In a first method of determination of D_PDCCH, a scaling factor, c3, forthe PDCCH monitoring duration adaptation can be indicated by a PoSS. TheUE assumes the PDCCH monitoring duration, D_PDCCH, for applicable searchspace set(s), is D_PDCCH=floor(D′_PDCCH*c3) or ceil(D′_PDCCH*c3), whereD′_PDCCH is the PDCCH monitoring duration before receiving theindication of c3 in a PoSS. A list of applicable values for c3 can bepreconfigured by higher layer signaling or defined in the specificationof the system operation, for example, {0, 25%, 50%, 100%}.

In a second method of determination of D_PDCCH, a list of N>=1applicable PDCCH monitoring duration can be preconfigured by RRCsignaling for applicable search space set(s). One of the applicablevalues is indicated by a PoSS, for example, a DCI field of ceil(log2(N)) can indicate one of the N applicable values. UE assume the PDCCHmonitoring duration D_PDCCH is the value indicated by the PoSS.

A UE determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion on an active DL BWP from thePDCCH monitoring periodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and the PDCCHmonitoring pattern within a slot configured by RRC signaling and aphysical layer signal/channel for triggering adaptation on PDCCHmonitoring. For an active search space set s, the UE determines that aPDCCH monitoring occasion(s) exists in a slot with number n_(s,f) ^(μ)in a frame with number n_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot) ^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f)^(μ)−o_(s)) mod k′_(s)=0. k′_(s)=k_(s) ^(PS), if the adaptation on PDCCHmonitoring periodicity for search space set s, k_(s) ^(PS), is indicatedby the signal/channel; otherwise k′_(s)=k_(s), where k_(s) is the PDCCHmonitoring periodicity for search space set s configured to the UE byRRC signaling. The UE monitors PDCCH for search space set s for T′_(s)consecutive slots, starting from slot n_(s,f) ^(μ), and does not monitorPDCCH for search space set s for the next k′_(s)−T′_(s) consecutiveslots. T′_(s)=T_(s) ^(PS), if the adaptation on duration for searchspace set s, T_(s) ^(PS), is indicated by a PoSS; otherwiseT′_(s)=T_(s), where T_(s) is the duration for search space set sconfigured by RRC signaling.

For determination of DCI formats to monitor for applicable search spacesets, a physical layer signal/channel can indicate the UE to monitorsubset of configured DCI formats. For example, a binary bit with valueof “0” and “1” can indicates the UE to monitor DCI formats with sizesame as DCI format 0_0 only or DCI format 0_1 only in applicable searchspace sets. For another example, a binary bit with value of “0” and “1”can indicates the UE to monitor UL DCI formats only or DL DCI formatsonly in applicable search space sets.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart for activation/deactivation of searchspace sets triggered by a physical layer signal/channel in accordancewith various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations in flowchart1600 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1600 begins at operation 1602 by monitoring a physical layersignal/channel for triggering the adaptation on one or more search spacesets, i.e., PoSS. In operation 1604, a PoSS is detected in a configuredmonitoring occasion. In operation 1606 a determination is made as towhether the applicable search space set(s) are activated beforedetection of PoSS. If the applicable search space set(s) are activatedbefore the detection of the PoSS, then the flowchart 1600 proceeds tooperation 1608 to deactivate the applicable search space set for aperiod indicated by the PoSS. For example, a binary bit of 0 canindicate the UE to use the first half of configured ALs andcorresponding PDCCH candidates for PDCCH monitoring in the applicablesearch space set, and a binary bit of “1” can indicate the UE to applythe second half of configured ALs and corresponding PDCCH candidates forPDCCH monitoring in the applicable search space sets.

However, if at operation 1606 a determination is made that theapplicable search space set(s) are not activated before detection of thePoSS, then flowchart 1600 proceeds to operation 1610 where theapplicable search space set(s) is activated and PDCCH monitoring isupdated as indicated by the PoSS. For example, the PoSS can indicatePDCCH monitoring periodicity or CCE aggregation levels, or PDCCHcandidates per CCE aggregation levels.

Determination of the Configuration of CORESET

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers determination of theconfiguration of a CORESET when a UE adaptation on the configuration ofa CORESET through a physical layer signal/channel is enabled. Thephysical layer signal/channel that triggers UE adaptation on PDCCHmonitoring in one or more applicable CORESET(s) is referred as PoSS inthis disclosure.

The UE adaptation can at least be (de)activation of configured searchspace set(s); (de)activation of CORESETs; and/or update on one or moreconfiguration parameter(s) per search space set/CORESET, such as CCE ALsor PDCCH candidates per CCE AL.

A UE can determine the CORSET applicable for PDCCH monitoring adaptationtriggered by a physical layer signal/channel through one of thefollowing methods.

In a first method of determination of applicable CORESET, the applicableCORESET can be indicated by RRC signaling. For example, a RRC parameteralong with the configuration of the CORESET can indicate whether or notPDCCH monitoring in the CORESET can be adapted by a physical layersignal/channel.

In a second method of determination of applicable CORESET, the index ofthe applicable CORESET can be carried in the PoSS.

The value for any configuration parameter related to applicable CORESETindicated by a physical layer signal/channel can override the value forthe configuration parameter provided by RRC signaling.

When an adaptation of one or more CORESET(s) is indicated by asignal/channel at physical layer such as a DCI format provided by aPDCCH, for each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE canbe indicated by the signal/channel an adaptation for P′<=N1 CORESETs.

For an applicable CORESET for PDCCH monitoring adaptation triggered by aPoSS, the UE is indicated at least one of the following adaptiveparameters by the PoSS, and each indication can override theconfiguration provided by RRC signaling.

Adaptive parameter 1: CORESET index p. The CORESET index can beindicated implicitly. In this case, the configured CORESETs that can beadapted can be ordered in ascending/descending order, a field in the DCIformat can carry a value of mod(j, Y)+c2, where i is the order index ofthe CORESET, Y can either be the number of configured CORESETs that canbe adapted or the maximum of configured CORESETs, e.g. 3, and c2 is ainteger, e.g. c2=0. The CORESET index p can indicate the respectiveCORESET for adaptive parameter(s) or (de)activation of the CORESET.

Adaptive parameter 2: A binary activated/deactivated value.

Adaptive parameter 3: A precoder granularity for a number of REGs in thefrequency domain where the UE can assume use of a same DM-RS precoder.

Adaptive parameter 4: A number of consecutive symbols that provides aCORESET size in the time domain, N_OFDM. For example, a positive ornegative offset of X symbols can be indicated by the signal/channel,such that N_OFDM=min(N′_OFDM+X, N_max) or N_OFDM=max(N′_OFDM−X, N_min),where X can either be predefined in the specification of the systemoperation, e.g. 1, or provided to the UE by higher layer signaling,N_max and N_min is the maximum and minimum consecutive symbols ofCORESET with adaptation, for example, N_max=3, N_min=1, N′_OFDM is thenumber of symbols of the applicable CORESET before adaptation.

Adaptive parameter 5: A set of resource blocks that provides a CORESETsize in the frequency domain. For example, the configured resourceblocks of CORESET can be divided into multiple subsets, and a binaryactivation/deactivation value for each subset can be indicated by aPoSS.

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart for adaptation on CORESET based on asignal/channel at the physical layer in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 1700 can beimplemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1700 begins at operation 1702 by monitoring a physical layersignal/channel for UE adaption on CORESET, i.e., PoSS. In operation1704, a determination is made as to whether a PoSS is detected. If aPoSS is detected, the flowchart 1700 proceeds to operation 1706 whereadaptive parameters of applicable CORESET(s) is determined based onapplicable values indicated by the PoSS. However, if the PoSS is notdetected, then the flowchart 1700 proceeds to operation 1708 and an nochanges on the CORESET configuration is assumed.

Determination of PDCCH Candidates/Non-Overlapping CCEs

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers determination of PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapping CCEs per slot for a DL BWP whenadaptation on PDCCH monitoring is triggered by a signal/channel at thephysical layer.

For an activated search space set s associated with CORESET p, CCEindexes for an activated aggregation level L corresponding to PDCCHcandidates m_(s,n) _(CI) of the search space set s in slot n_(s,f) ^(μ)for an active DL BWP of a serving cell corresponding to carrierindicator field value n_(CI) can be given by:

$\begin{matrix}{{L \cdot \{ {( {Y_{p,n_{s,f}^{\mu}} + \lfloor \frac{m_{s,n_{CI}} \cdot N_{{CCE},p}}{L \cdot M_{s,{m\; {ax}}}^{(L)}} \rfloor + n_{CI}} ){mod}\lfloor {N_{{CCE},p}/L} \rfloor} \}} + i} & ( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 3} )\end{matrix}$

where:

m _(s,n) _(CI) =0, . . . ,M′ _(s,n) _(CI) ^((L))−1;

M′_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) is a number of PDCCH candidates the UE monitorsfor aggregation level L of a search space set s for a serving cellcorresponding to n_(u);

M′_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L))=M_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L,PS)), if M_(s,n) _(CI)^((L,PS)) indicated by a signal/channel at physical layer, otherwiseM′_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) equals to the default value configured by RRCsignaling;

for a USS, M′_(s,max) ^((L)) is the maximum PDCCH candidates indicatedby a signal/channel at physical layer if the signal/channel triggers theadaptation on the maximum PDCCH candidates, otherwise M′_(s,max) ^((L))is a maximum of M′_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) over all configured n_(CI) valuesfor a CCE aggregation level L of search space set s;

i=0, . . . , L−1; and

other parameters are same as NR Rel-15 in REF 3.

FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart for determining non-overlapping CCEswith adaptation requests through a signal/channel at the physical layerin accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 1800 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1800 begins at operation 1802 where a signal/channel at aphysical layer is configured for triggering adaptation on PDCCHcandidates. For example, the UE can be configured with a signal/channelat physical layer for triggering adaptation on PDCCH candidates per CCEAL of search space sets.

In operation 1804 a determination is made as to whether thesignal/channel is received. If the signal/channel is received, thenflowchart 1800 proceeds to operation 1806 where the non-overlapping CCEsper slot are determined based on adapted PDCCH candidates indicated bythe received signal/channel. In one embodiment, non-overlapping CCEs perslot are determined based on adapted PDCCH candidates per AL or maximumPDCCH candidate indicated by the received signal/channel according toEquation 3.

If the signal/channel is not received in operation 1804, then theflowchart 1800 proceeds to operation 1808 where non-overlapping CCEs perslot are determined based on the configured PDCCH candidates, e.g.,through RRC signaling.

In some embodiments, a UE can be expected to monitor PDCCH candidatesfor up to 4 sizes of DCI formats that include up to min(N^(PS) _(DCI),3) sizes of DCI formats with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI per serving cell,where N^(PS) _(DCI) can be indicated by a signal/channel. The UE cancount a number of sizes for DCI formats per serving cell based on anumber of configured or activated PDCCH candidates in respective searchspace sets for the corresponding active DL BWP.

Table 3 provides the maximum number of monitored PDCCH candidates,M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ), for a DL BWP with SCS configuration μ for a UEper slot for operation with a single serving cell when an adaptation onnumber of PDCCH candidates per slot, M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ), isindicated by a signal/channel.

TABLE 3 Maximum number of monitored PDCCH candidates per slot and per μserving cell M_(PDCCH) ^(′max,slot,μ) 0 44 or M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ)1 36 or M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ) 2 22 or M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ) 3 20or M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ)

M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ)=M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ) if the maximum numberof monitored PDCCH candidates per slot per serving cell is indicated bya signal/channel; otherwise, M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ)=M_(PDCCH)^(maxslot,μ), where M_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ) is the maximum number ofmonitored PDCCH candidates per slot and per severing cell defined inTable 10.1-2 in REF3. For a number of PDCCH candidates indicated by asignal/channel M_(PDCCH,PS) ^(maxslot,μ) can either be indicated bysignal/channel explicitly, or be derived from a scaling factor M_(s)provided by a signal/channel such as M′_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)=M′_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ)·M_(s), or a set of values for M′_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) canbe provided by higher layers, such as 4 values, and one value can beindicated by a field in a DCI format provided by a PDCCH, such as afield with 2 bits.

A UE can be requested by a signal/channel a capability to monitor PDCCHcandidates for N_(cell) ^(cap,PS) downlink cells. N_(cell) ^(cap,PS) canoverride the default value of the maximum number of downlink cells tomonitor PDCCH candidates, i.e. 4, or the configured capability N_(cells)^(cap) through pdcch-BlindDetectionCA.

In some embodiments, a UE does not monitor, on the active DL BWP of thescheduling cell, more than M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=M′_(PDCCH)^(maxslot,μ) PDCCH candidates or more than C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)=C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs per slot foreach scheduled cell if the following two conditions are met.

Condition 1: the UE is capable for operation with carrier aggregationwith a maximum of 4 downlink cells or indicates throughpdcch-BlindDetectionCA a capability to monitor PDCCH candidates forN_(cells) ^(cap)≥4 downlink cells or requested through power savingsignal/channel a capability to monitor PDCCH candidates for 0<N_(cell)^(cap,PS)<N_(cells) ^(cap); and

Condition 2: the UE is configured with N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cellswith DL BWPs having SCS configuration μ, where Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cell)^(DL,μ)≤4 or Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cell) ^(DL,μ)≤N_(cells) ^(cap), or Σ_(μ=0)³N_(cell) ^(DL,μ)≤N_(cell) ^(cap,PS) respectively.

In some embodiments, a UE does not monitor more than M_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M′_(PDCCH)^(maxslot,μ)·N_(active,cells) ^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ^(j)N_(active,cells)^(DL,j)┘ PDCCH candidates or more than C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·C_(PDCCH)^(maxslot,μ)·N_(active,cells) ^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ^(j)N_(active,cells)^(DL,j)┘ non-overlapping CCEs per slot on the active DL BWP(s) ofscheduling cell(s) from the N_(active,cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cells ifthe following two conditions are met.

Condition 1: the UE indicates through pdcch-BlindDetectionCA acapability to monitor PDCCH candidates for N_(cells) ^(cap)≥4 downlinkcells or requested through a signal/channel a capability to monitorPDCCH candidates for 0<N_(cell) ^(cap,PS)<N_(cells) ^(cap), and

Condition 2: The UE is configured with N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cellswith DL BWPs having SCS configuration μ where Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cell)^(DL,μ)>N_(cells) ^(cap) or Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cell) ^(DL,μ)>N_(cells)^(cap,PS), respectively a DL BWP of an activated cell a DL BWP of anactivated cell is the active DL BWP of the activated cell, and a DL BWPof a deactivated cell is the DL BWP with index provided byfirstActiveDownlinkBWP-Id and signal/channel for the deactivated cell.

For each scheduled cell, the UE is not required to monitor on the activeDL BWP with SCS configuration μ of the scheduling cell more thanmin(M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ), M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ))PDCCH candidatesor more than min (C_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot,μ), C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ))non-overlapped CCEs per slot.

For all activated search space sets within a slot, denote by S_(CSS) aset of CSS sets with cardinality of I_(CSS) and by S_(USS) a set of USSsets with cardinality of J_(USS). The location of USS sets S_(j),0≤S_(j)<J_(USS), in S_(USS) is according to an ascending order of thesearch space set index.

Denote by M′_(S) _(CSS) _((i)) ^(L), 0≤i<I_(CSS), the number ofconfigured or activated PDCCH candidates for CSS set S_(CSS)(i) and byM′_(S) _(USS) _((j)) ^(L), 0≤J_(USS), the number of configured oractivated PDCCH candidates for activated USS set S_(USS)(j). For the CSSsets, a UE monitors M_(PDCCH) ^(CSS)=Σ_(i=0) ^(I) ^(CSS) ⁻¹Σ_(L)M′_(S)_(CSS) _((i)) ^(L) PDCCH candidates requiring a total of C_(PDCCH)^(CSS) non-overlapping CCEs in a slot.

Denote by V_(CCE)(S_(USS)(j)) the set of non-overlapping CCEs for searchspace set S_(USS)(j) and by

(V_(CCE)(S_(USS)(j))) the cardinality of V_(CCE)(S_(USS)(j)) where thenon-overlapping CCEs for search space set S_(USS)(j) are determinedconsidering the monitored PDCCH candidates for the activated CSS setsand the monitored PDCCH candidates for all activated search space setsS_(USS)(k), 0≤k<j.

Set M_(PDCCH) ^(USS) = min(M′_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot, μ), M_(PDCCH)^(total, slot, μ)) − M_(PDCCH) ^(CSS) Set C_(PDCCH) ^(USS) =min(C_(PDCCH) ^(maxslot, μ), C_(PDCCH) ^(total, slot, μ)) − C_(PDCCH)^(CSS) Set j = 0 while ΣL M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)) ≤ M_(PDCCH) ^(uss)AND  

(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j))) ≤ C_(PDCCH) ^(uss)  if search space set j isactivated or not deactivated by power saving signal/channel   allocateΣL M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)) monitored PDCCH candidates to USS setS_(uss)(j);   M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) − ΣL M_(S) _(uss)_((j)) ^((L));   C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) −C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j)));  end if;  j = j + 1 ; end while

Additional Timeline for UE Adaptation

Another embodiment of this disclosure also considers additional timelinefor applying UE adaptation request on one or more adaptive parameter(s).The associated adaptation parameter(s) can be any adaptive parameter inthis disclosure. When a UE receives an adaptation indication through asignal/channel at physical layer or MCA CE, a UE can apply the UEadaptation or indicated value(s) on associated adaptive parameter(s)after an application delay.

In first embodiment on determination of application delay, if a UEreceives an adaptation request or adaptation indication through MAC CE,the UE can apply the indicated value(s) on associated adaptiveparameters at a time T_(gap) ^(AR) millisecond(s)/slot(s) after the slotwhen the UE transmits HARQ-ACK information for the PDSCH providing theadaptation request.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaptation request by aUE when the adaptation request is received through a MAC CE inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 1900 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 1900 begins at operation 1902 by obtaining a time gap. Thetime gap, T_(gap) ^(AR), can have a unit of one millisecond or one slot.In operation 1904, an adaptation request is received through MAC CE,e.g., in a PDSCH.

In operation 1906, a HARQ ACK/NACK is transmitted for the PDSCHproviding the adaptation request on a granted slot with an index ofn_(s,f) ^(μ).

In operation 1908, newly indicated value(s) in the adaptation requestcan be applied at T_(gap) ^(AR) time after the slot n_(s,f) ^(μ). In oneexample, when T_(gap) ^(AR) is in the unit of one slot, the UE can applythe new indicated value(s) starting from a slot with index n_(s,f)^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR). In the other words, UE is not expected to apply thenew indicated value(s) before slot n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR). Inanother example, when T_(gap) ^(AR) is in the unit of one millisecond,the UE can apply the new indicated value(s) starting from a slot withindex n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR)+2^(μ), where μ=0, 1, 2, 3 is the SCSindex of active DL BWP. In the other words, UE is not expected to applythe new indicated value(s) before slot n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR)·2^(μ),where μ=0, 1, 2, 3 is the SCS index of active DL BWP.

In second embodiment on determination of application delay, if a UEreceives an adaptation request or indication through a DCI format withCRC scrambled by C-RNTI, the UE can apply the indicated value(s) toassociated adaptive parameter(s) at a time T_(gap) ^(AR)millisecond(s)/slot(s) after slot n_(s,f) ^(μ). The slot n_(s,f) ^(μ)can be the slot index when UE transmits HARQ-ACK information for thePDSCH granted by the DCI format providing the adaptation request. Inthis case, UE does not apply the triggered adaptation request orindicated value(s) when UE transmits HARQ-NACK for the PDSCH granted bythe DC format. Alternatively, n_(s,f) ^(μ) can be the slot index when UEtransmits HARQ-ACK/NACK information for the PDSCH granted by the DCIformat providing the adaptation request or indication. In this case, theUE can apply the indicated value(s) or adaptation request with a timegap of T_(gap) ^(AR) after feedback the either HARQ-ACK or HARQ-NACK forthe PDSCH granted by the same DCI format that provides the adaptationrequest/indication.

In one example, the UE can apply the new indicated value(s) startingfrom a slot with index n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR). In the other word, UEis not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) before slot n_(s,f)^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR).

In another example, the UE can apply the new indicated value(s) startingfrom a slot with index n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR)·2^(μ), where μ=0, 1,2, 3 is the SCS index of active DL BWP. In the other word, UE is notexpected to apply the new indicated value(s) before slot n_(s,f)^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR)·2^(μ), where μ=0, 1, 2, 3 is the SCS index of activeDL BWP.

FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaption request orindication by a UE when the adaptation request or indication is receivedthrough a DCI format with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI in accordance withvarious embodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 2000 canbe implemented in a UE such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2000 begins at operation 2002 by obtaining a time gap. Thetime gap, T_(gap) ^(AR), can have units of one millisecond or one slot.In operation 2004, an adaptation request or indication is receivedthrough a DCI format with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI.

In operation 2006, HARQ information is transmitted for the PDSCH grantedby the DCI providing the adaptation request/indication in a granted slotwith index n_(s,f) ^(μ). In operation 2008, the newly indicated value(s)are applied starting from a slot with index n_(s,f) ^(μ)+T_(gap)^(AR)·2^(μ), where μ=0, 1, 2, 3 is the SCS index of active DL BWP. UE isnot expected to apply the new indicated value(s) before slot n_(s,f)^(μ)+T_(gap) ^(AR)·2^(μ), where μ=0, 1, 2, 3 is the SCS index of activeDL BWP.

In a third embodiment on determination of application delay, if a UEreceives an adaptation request or indication through a signal/channel atphysical layer, the UE can apply the adaptation request or indicatedvalues to associated PDCCH monitoring parameters T_(gap) ^(AR) timeafter the time when the UE receives the adaptation request orindication.

In one example, when the physical layer signal/channel for triggeringthe adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule a PDSCH, the UEis not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) before slot

$\lceil {( {n + T_{gap}^{AR}} ) \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PDSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rceil,$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PDSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PDSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPDSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

$\lfloor {( {n + T_{gap}^{AR}} ) \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PDSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rfloor,$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PDSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PDSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPDSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

${\lceil {n \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PDSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rceil + T_{gap}^{AR}},$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PDSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PDSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPDSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

${\lfloor {n \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PDSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rfloor + T_{gap}^{AR}},$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PDSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PDSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPUSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

$\lceil {( {n + T_{gap}^{AR}} ) \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PUSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rceil,$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s),and μ_(PUSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are the subcarrier spacing configurationsfor PUSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPUSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

$\lfloor {( {n + T_{gap}^{AR}} ) \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PUSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rfloor,$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PUSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PUSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPUSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

${\lceil {n \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PUSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rceil + T_{gap}^{AR}},$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PUSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PUSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a scheduling DCI, which also schedule aPUSCH, the UE is not expected to apply the new indicated value(s) beforeslot

${\lfloor {n \cdot \frac{2^{\mu_{PUSCH}}}{2^{\mu_{PDCCH}}}} \rfloor + T_{gap}^{AR}},$

where n is the slot index when the UE receives the indicated value(s)with DCI CRC check successfully, and μ_(PUSCH) and μ_(PDCCH) are thesubcarrier spacing configurations for PUSCH and PDCCH, respectively.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a non-scheduling DCI format, e.g. a DCIformat dedicated for power saving with CRC scrambled by PS-RNTI in themeans of either USS or CSS, the UE is not expected to apply the newindicated value(s) before slot n+T_(gap) ^(AR)·2^(μ), where μ=0, 1, 2, 3is the SCS index of active DL BWP when UE is ready to apply thetriggered adaptation, and n is the slot index when the UE receives theindicated value(s) with DCI CRC check successfully.

In yet another example, when the physical layer signal/channel fortriggering the adaptation is a non-scheduling DCI format, e.g. a DCIformat dedicated for power saving with CRC scrambled by PS-RNTI in themeans of either USS or CSS, the UE is not expected to apply the newindicated value(s) before slot n+T_(gap) ^(AR), where n is the slotindex when the UE receives the indicated value(s) with DCI CRC checksuccessfully.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flowchart for applying an adaptation request onPDCCH monitoring in a UE when the adaptation request is received througha group-common PDCCH or non-scheduling DCI without HARQ feedback inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 2100 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2100 begins at operation 2102 by obtaining a time gap. Thetime gap, T_(gap) ^(AR), can have units of one millisecond or one slotor an OFDM symbol duration. In operation 2104 an adaptation request orindication is received through a group-common PDCCH or a non-schedulingDCI at slot n_(s,f) ^(μ). In operation 2106, the adaptation request orindication is applied at time or slot that is at least T_(gap) ^(AR)after the slot n_(s,f) ^(μ).

A UE can determine a value for T_(gap) ^(AR) through one of thefollowing examples. In a first example, T_(gap) ^(AR) is fixed anddefined in the specification of the system operation, e.g. T_(gap)^(AR)=1 or T_(gap) ^(AR)=0. In one example, T_(gap) ^(AR) can be definedper SCS configuration.

In a second example, T_(gap) ^(AR)=max(Y, Z), where Y is the minimum K0value before applying newly indicated applicable value or UE adaptation,Z is the smallest feasible non-zero application delay. Z can be fixedand defined in the specification of the system operation, e.g. Z=1 orZ=2. Z can depend on DL SCS, e.g. Z=1 for SCS=15 KHz/30 KHz, Z=2 forSCS=60 KHz, and the Z=3 for Z=120 KHz.

In a third example, T_(gap) ^(AR)=max(Y, Z), where Y is maximum value ofminimum K0, and/or minimum K2, and/or minimum aperiodic CSI-RStriggering offset before applying newly indicated applicable value(s) orUE adaptation, Z is the smallest feasible non-zero application delay. Zcan be fixed and defined in the specification of the system operation,e.g. Z=1 or Z=2. Z can depend on DL SCS, e.g. Z=1 for SCS=15 KHz/30 KHz,Z=2 for SCS=60 KHz, and the Z=3 for Z=120 KHz.

In a fourth example, T_(gap) ^(AR) can be provided to the UE throughhigher layer signaling.

In a fifth example, T_(gap) ^(AR) can be provided to UE through higherlayer signaling in response to assistance information of the preferredvalue on transmitted from UE to gNB.

In a sixth example, T_(gap) ^(AR) can be associated with a timegap/offset between the first monitoring occasion of the physical layersignal/channel for triggering the UE adaptation and the start of nextDRX ON duration, denoted as O{circumflex over ( )}MO_DRX1.

In a sub-example of the sixth example, T_(gap) ^(AR)=max(Z, O{circumflexover ( )}MO_DRX1), where Z is the smallest feasible non-zero applicationdelay. Z can be defined in the specification of the system operation,e.g. Z=1, or Z=2 or Z=1 for SCS=15 KHz/30 KHz, Z=2 for SCS=60 KHz, andZ=3 for SCS=120 KHz or Z is UE capability of BWP switching delay, i.e.bwp-SwitchingDelay.

In another sub-example of the sixth example, T_(gap) ^(AR)=O{circumflexover ( )}MO_DRX1. UE can start applying the triggered UE adaptation orindicated applicable values in the first slot of the next DRX ONduration. UE is not expects to be configured with O{circumflex over( )}MO_DRX2<bwp-SwitchingDelay, where bwp-SwitchingDelay is UEcapability of BWP switching delay, when the physical layersignal/channel outside of DRX Active Time also triggers BWP switching.

In a seventh example, T_(gap) ^(AR) can be associated with a timegap/offset between the last monitoring occasion of the physical layersignal/channel for triggering the UE adaptation and the start of nextDRX ON duration, denoted as O{circumflex over ( )}MO_DRX2.

In a sub-example of the seventh example, T_(gap) ^(AR)=max(Z,O{circumflex over ( )}MO_DRX2), where Z is the smallest feasiblenon-zero application delay. Z can be defined in the specification of thesystem operation, e.g. Z=1, or Z=2 or Z=1 for SCS=15 KHz/30 KHz, Z=2 forSCS=60 KHz, and Z=3 for SCS=120 KHz or Z is UE capability of BWPswitching delay, i.e. bwp-SwitchingDelay.

In another sub-example of the seventh example, T_(gap)^(AR)=O{circumflex over ( )}MO_DRX2. UE can start applying the triggeredUE adaptation or indicated applicable values in the first slot of thenext DRX ON duration. UE is not expects to be configured withO{circumflex over ( )}MO_DRX2<bwp-SwitchingDelay, wherebwp-SwitchingDelay is UE capability of BWP switching delay, when thephysical layer signal/channel outside of DRX Active Time also triggersBWP switching.

In an eighth example, when a UE adaptation is triggered by a physicallayer signal/channel outside of DRX Active Time, T_(gap) ^(AR) can bethe time gap between the time when the UE receives an adaptation requestor indication through a signal/channel at physical layer and the Nthslot within the Active Time of next associated DRX cycle. In this case,the UE is not expected to apply the triggered UE adaptation or indicatedvalue(s) before the Nth slot within the Active Time of next associatedDRX cycle. N can be either provided through higher layer signaling ordefined in the specification of the system operation, e.g. N=1.

In a ninth example, when a UE adaptation is triggered by a physicallayer signal/channel outside of DRX Active Time, T_(gap) ^(AR) can bethe time gap between the time when the UE receives an adaptation requestor indication through a signal/channel at physical layer and the firstslot of PDCCH monitoring occasion within the Active Time of nextassociated DRX cycle. In this case, the UE is not expected to apply thetriggered UE adaptation or indicated value(s) before the first slot ofPDCCH monitoring within the Active Time of next associated DRX cycle.

For UE adaptation triggered by a physical layer signal/channel, a UE canhave a different application delay depending on whether or not the UEdetects the physical layer signal/channel outside or within the ActiveTime when a DRX cycle is configured. The Active Time is defined in REF6.

FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart for applying an application delay by aUE when power saving signal/channel is monitored outside and inside ofthe DRX active time in accordance with various embodiments of thisdisclosure. Operations of flowchart 2200 can be implemented in a UE,such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2200 begins at operation 2202 by obtaining one or moreapplication delays for applying UE adaptation triggered by a physicallayer signal/channel within and outside Active Time of DRX cycle. Inthis non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 22, X1 is an adaptation delayoutside of DRX Active time and X2 is an adaptation delay within DRXActive time.

In operation 2204 a determination is made as to whether the adaptationrequest is received through a physical layer channel/signal outside ofthe DRX Active time.

If the adaptation request is received through a physical layerchannel/signal outside of the DRX Active time, e.g., a DCI format withCRC scrambled by a RNTI dedicated for power saving, (PS-RNTI), thenflowchart 2200 proceeds to operation 2206 where the triggered adaptationis applied after a time gap determined by the application delay X1. Inone example, the UE is not expected to apply the applicable value(s) ofminimum K0 and/or K2, and/or aperiodic CSI-RS triggering offsetindicated by the DCI format, before the first slot index of PDCCHmonitoring occasion within the next associated DRX Active Time. Inanother example, the UE is not expected to operate in the target BWPindicated by the DCI format before the first slot index within the nextassociated DRX Active Time. In this other example, the time offsetbetween the last PDCCH monitoring occasion of the physical layersignal/channel to trigger the BWP switching outside of DRX Active Timeand the start of next associated DRX ON duration should be no less thanthe BWP switching delay.

Returning to operation 2204, if the determination is made that theadaptation request is not received through a physical layerchannel/signal outside of the DRX Active time, then flowchart 2200proceeds to operation 2208 where the adaptation request is receivedthrough a physical layer channel/signal within the DRX Active time,e.g., a scheduling DCI format with CRC scrambled by C-RNTI. In operation2210, the triggered adaptation is applied after a time gap determined bythe application delay X2. For example, the UE is not expected to applythe indicated applicable value(s) of minimum K0 and/or K2, and/oraperiodic CSI-RS triggering offset before the slot where UE transmitsHARQ ACK information for the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI format providingthe UE adaptation request.

UE adaptation on one or more adaptive parameter(s) based on asignal/channel at physical layer can be reset to default value(s). Thedefault value(s) can be either predefined in the specification or thesystem operation or configured by higher layer signaling.

In one example, the value(s) for associated adaptive parameter(s) can bereset to the default value(s) every T_(reset) ^(AR)milliseconds(s)/slot(s).

In another example, a UE can receives a higher layer command, e.g. MACCE, to indicate reset of the adaptive parameters to default value(s).

In yet another example, the value(s) for associated adaptiveparameter(s) can be reset to default value(s) if UE current value(s)is/are not invalid. For example, after BWP switching, the currentvalue(s), such as minimum K0/K2/aperiodic CSI-RS may be larger than allconfigured candidate value(s) in the new active DL/UL BWP, and thusis/are not valid. In this case, UE can apply/reset the associatedadaptive parameter to default value(s). When the invalid value isminimum K0/K2, the default value can be the minimum value of the usedtime domain resource allocation (TDRA) table in the new active DL/ULBWP.

A UE can determine a value for T_(reset) ^(AR) through one of thefollowing examples.

In a first example, T_(reset) ^(AR) is fixed and defined in thespecification of the system operation, e.g. T_(gap) ^(AR)=100 ms.

In a second example, T_(reset) ^(AR) can be provided to the UE throughhigher layer signaling

In a third example, T_(reset) ^(AR) can be provided to UE through higherlayer signaling in response to assistance information of the preferredvalue on transmitted from UE to gNB.

To avoid an error case resulting from a UE failing to detect asignal/channel that can lead to the UE and a serving gNB having adifferent understanding of PDCCH candidates or search spaces sets thatthe UE monitors, such as the UE failing to detect a DCI format in aPDCCH that included a field providing an adaptation for a number ofPDCCH candidates or for search space sets for the UE to monitor PDCCH,one of the following two examples can be implemented.

In one example, activation or deactivation of PDCCH candidates or ofsearch space sets can be achieved according to a descending search spaceset index starting from the largest activated search space set index.The index of the search space set, s, that is triggered to be adapted bya DCI format transmitted by gNB, can be carried in a field of the DCIformat. For example, one field with size of c1 in a DCI format fortriggering the adaptation on PDCCH monitoring can be used to carry theinformation of mod(s, 2{circumflex over ( )}c1), where c1 is eitherdefined in the specification of the system operation, such that c1=1, orprovided to a UE through higher layer signaling.

In another example, the DCI format can include a field with c2 bits, andthe c2 bits can carry a counter, x=0, 1, . . . 2{circumflex over( )}c2−1, such that x=mod(x′+1, 2{circumflex over ( )}c2), where x′ isthe counter in previous DCI format transmitted by gNB.

Interpretation of DCI Format for Triggering UE Adaptation

Another embodiment of this disclosure considers interpretation of a DCIformat for triggering UE adaptation for power saving. A UE can receive aDCI format with CRC scrambled by a RNTI dedicated for power saving, forexample, PS-RNTI. The DCI format is referred to herein as PS-DCI.

The PS-DCI can be transmitted by a gNB to one or more UEs, and eachassociated UE can be configured a location in PS-DCI for one or morefields associated to the UE. For example, the PS-DCI can consist of N>=1blocks. Each of the blocks is dedicated to one UE. A UE can be providedwith a block index, n_block, and size of the block, N{circumflex over( )}block_bits. The UE can derive the start bit of the block associatedto the UE as n_block*N{circumflex over ( )}block_bits.

One or more DCI fields can be bundled together to be associated with apower saving scheme/technology. The bundled DCI fields can be activatedor deactivated by higher layer signaling.

PS-DCI can be monitored by a UE outside DRX Active Time or inside of DRXActive Time or in RRC_CONNECTED state without C-DRX configured. WhenPS-DCI is monitored by UE both outside of DRX Active Time and within aDRX Active Time in RRC_CONNECTED state, the fields of PS-DCI fortriggering UE adaptation can have a different interpretation dependingon whether or not the UE detects the DCI format outside DRX Active Timeor within a DRX Active Time, or a location within a DRX Active Time.

When the UE detects a DCI format with fields for power saving before aDRX ON duration, a field of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UEshould wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles,this field is referred as first field in this disclosure. In the otherword, the first field can indicate whether or not the UE skips PDCCHmonitoring at a next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s). X is a positiveinteger, and can be defined in the specification of the systemoperation, e.g. X=1 or can be provided to the UE through higher layersignaling, or can be the number of DRX cycles within current periodicityof the DCI format and before the next monitoring occasion in the nextperiodicity. For example, “1” of the first field can indicate wake upand do not skip PDCCH monitoring for the next X DRX ONduration(s)/cycle(s); “0” of the first field can indicate got to sleepand skip PDCCH monitoring for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s).For another example, “0” of the first field can indicate wake-up and donot skip PDCCH monitoring for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s);“1” of the first field can indicate got-to-sleep and skip PDCCHmonitoring for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s). The remainingfields of a DCI format for triggering UE adaptation can be interpretedbased on the result of the first field according to the following rules.

Rule 1: When the UE is indicated to not wake up or skip PDCCH monitoringfor next X DRX ON duration(s), another field of one or more bit(s),denoted as second field in this disclosure can be any of the followingexamples.

In a first example of Rule 1, the second field can indicate whether theUE wakes up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) afterthe next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s). In this case, the second fieldcan consists of N1 binary bits wherein each bit indicate whether or nota UE should wake up for the ith set of Y consecutive DRX ONduration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s), i=0,. . . , N1−1. N1 can be either predefined in the specification, e.g.N1=1, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling. Y>=N1, canbe either predefined in the specification of the system operation, e.g.Y=1, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling.

In a second example of Rule 1, the second field of 1 bit can indicatewhether or not the UE needs to monitor PDCCH in CSS sets in next X ONduration(s) or DRX cycle(s). The associated PDCCH can be such as DCIformat with CRC scrambled by P-RNTI or DCI format with CRC scrambled bySI-RNTI.

In a third example of Rule 1, the second field can indicate additionalsleep duration, where the UE skip the DRX ON duration(s) within thesleep duration. A list of non-zero applicable values for sleep durationcan be provided to the UE either through higher layer signaling orpredefined in the specification of system operation. The second fieldcan indicate one of the candidate values for sleep duration. The sleepduration can be in the unit of one DRX ON duration or one DRX cycle.

In a fourth example of Rule 1, the second field can indicate theswitching between ‘dormancy-like’ and ‘non-dormancy-like’ behavior onactivated SCell(s) other than the SCell that UE monitors the PS-DCI.When UE is indicated to have ‘dormancy-like’ behavior for a SCell, theUE does not monitor PDCCH for at least USS sets in the SCell, ormonitors PDCCH in a relative large monitoring periodicity for at leastUSS sets in the SCell.

Rule 2: When the UE is indicated to wake up or not to skip PDCCHmonitoring for next X DRX ON duration, another field of one or morebit(s), denoted as second field in this disclosure can be any of thefollowing examples.

In a first example of Rule 2, the second field of N1′ bits can indicatethe active DL BWP that the UE assumes for next X DRX ON duration. N1′can be either predefined in the specification of the system operation,e.g. N1′=1, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling. N1′can be ceil(log 2(N{circumflex over ( )}DL_BWPs)), where N{circumflexover ( )}DL_BWPs is the number of the configured DL BWP.

In a second example of Rule 2, the second field of N2′ bits can indicateminimum K0/K2, wherein K0/K2 indicate the slot offset between DCI andits scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH. N2′ can be either predefined in thespecification of the system operation, e.g. N2′=1, or provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

In a third example of Rule 2, the second field can be CSI request, wherethe UE is indicated to report an aperiodic CSI. The second field can be0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 bits determined by higher layer parameterreportTiggerSize in REF 7. The UE assumes same indication method andreport method as NR Rel-15.

In a fourth example of Rule 2, the second field can indicate theswitching between ‘dormancy-like’ and ‘non-dormancy-like’ behavior onactivated SCell(s) other than the SCell that UE monitors the PS-DCI.When the UE is indicated to have ‘dormancy-like’ behavior for a SCell,the UE does not monitor PDCCH for at least USS sets in the SCell, ormonitors PDCCH in a relative large monitoring periodicity for at leastUSS sets in the SCell. The activated SCells other than the carrier wherethe UE monitors the PS-DCI can be divided into N3′ groups. The secondfield can be N3′ bits, and the jth (1=<j<=N3′) bit indicate whether ornot UE should operate in ‘dormancy-like’ behavior in the SCell(s)associated with the jth group.

In a fifth example of Rule 2, the second field indicates minimumscheduling offset, wherein any scheduling offset between the schedulingDCI format and the scheduled data transmission or reception is largerthan the minimum scheduling offset.

In a sixth example of Rule 2, the second field indicates the maximumMIMO layer for PDSCH transmission or PUSCH reception that applies to anyof the serving cells.

In a seventh example of Rule 2, the second field indicates the maximumTX antenna ports or RX antenna ports for UL data transmission or DL datareception, respectively.

In an eighth example of Rule 2, the second field indicates the PDCCHmonitoring periodicity for at least USS sets in any of the servingcells.

In a ninth example of Rule 2, the second field indicates the minimumPDCCH monitoring periodicity for at least USS sets in any of the servingcells.

In a tenth example of Rule 2, the second field can be a joint adaptationindicator to trigger adaptation on multiple power consumptions aspects.In this case, a UE can be provided with an adaptation table to addressadaptation on RRC parameters that are not configured per BWP but areessential to define different power consumption levels or power savingstates. The joint adaptation indicator is the row index of theadaptation table, which indicate an adaptation on associated adaptiveparameters. Table 4 shows an example an adaptation table with adaptationsignaling on minimum K0/K2, maximum MIMO layers/ports, and active CCgroup. The configured active cells can be grouped by gNB, and the cellgroup index can be included in the adaptation table.

TABLE 4 Joint Maximum adaptation Mini MIMO Active CC indicator K0/K2layers/ports group Index Notes 0 4 1 1 Very high power savingstate/level 1 2 2 2 High power saving state/level 2 1 3 3 medium powersaving state/level 3 0 4 4 low power saving state

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart for interpretation of a PS-DCI detectedoutside of the DRX active time by a UE in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 2300 can beimplemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2300 begins at operation 2302 by monitoring a DCI format withfields for triggering UE adaptation. In one embodiment, the UEadaptation can be for power savings. In operation 2304, a DCI format forpower saving is detected outside of a DRX ON duration. The DCI formatcan be detected with a successful CRC check. A determination is made inoperation 2306 as to whether a first field indicates to wake up for thenext X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s). In one embodiment, the first fieldcan include a binary bit that triggers the UE adaptation for powersavings.

If the determination made in operation 2306 indicates that a UE shouldwake up for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s), then flowchart 2300proceeds to operation 2308 where an active DL BWP is determined afterwake-up. In operation 2310, a minimum K0/K2 is determined after wakeup,and in operation 2312, a joint adaptation indicator is determined. Theactive DL BWP, the minimum K0/K2, and the joint adaptation indicator canbe determined based on binary bits included in the same field, e.g., asecond field. Alternatively, the binary bits can be in different fieldsin the detected DCI formats.

Returning to operation 2306, when the first field indicates the UE notto wake up for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s), i.e., to skipPDCCH monitoring or go to sleep for next X DRX ON duration(s), thenflowchart 2300 proceeds to operation 2314 where the UE determineswhether or not to wake up for the next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)after the next X DRX ON duration(s). The determination can be made basedon the binary bits in same field as the one that includes the active DLBWP, the minimum K0/K2, and the joint adaptation indicator, i.e., in thesecond field. Alternatively, the binary bits can be in a differentfield.

When the UE detects a DCI format with fields for triggering UEadaptation at the beginning of a DRX ON duration period or within thefirst K slots/milliseconds of the DRX on duration, a field or firstfield of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UE go to sleep or skipsPDCCH monitoring for the remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle. Inone example, “1” of the first field can indicate go-to-sleep and skipPDCCH monitoring for the remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle; “0”of the first field can indicate continue PDCCH monitoring and do not goto sleep for the remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle. In anotherexample, “0” of the first field can indicate go-to-sleep and skip PDCCHmonitoring for the remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle; “1” ofthe first field can indicate continue PDCCH monitoring and do not go tosleep for the remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle. Kslots/milliseconds can be either defined in the specification of thesystem operation, for example, K=1, or provided to the UE through higherlayer signaling. The remaining fields of the DCI format for triggeringUE adaptation which is detected at the beginning of a DRX ON durationperiod or within the first K slots/milliseconds of the DRX on durationcan be interpreted based on the result of the first field according tothe following rules.

Rule 1. When the UE goes to sleep or skips PDCCH monitoring for theremaining Active Time of current DRX cycle, another field or a secondfield of N1 bit(s) can indicate whether the UE skips PDCCH monitoringfor a number of next N1*Y DRX ON durations after the Active Time ofcurrent DRX cycle. The field can consists of N1 binary bit, and each ofthe N1 bit indicates whether or not the UE can skip PDCCH monitoring forthe ith set, i=0, 1, . . . , N1−1, of Y consecutive DRX ONduration(s)/cycle(s). Any of N1/Y can be either predefined in thespecification of the system operation, e.g. N1=1/Y=1, or provided to theUE through higher layer signaling.

Rule 2. When the UE does not go to sleep or skip PDCCH monitoring forthe remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle, another field or asecond field of N1′ bits after the first field can indicate the activeDL BWP. N1′ can be either predefined in the specification of the systemoperation, e.g. N1′=1, or provided to the UE through higher layersignaling. When the UE does not go to sleep or skip PDCCH monitoring forthe remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle, yet another field or athird field of N2′ bits after the first or second field can indicateminimum K0/K2 for cross-slot scheduling, wherein K0/K2 indicate the slotoffset between DCI and its scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH. N2′ can be eitherpredefined in the specification of the system operation, e.g. N2′=1, orprovided to the UE through higher layer signaling. When the UE does notgo to sleep or skip PDCCH monitoring for the remaining Active Time ofcurrent DRX cycle, yet another field after the first field can be ajoint adaptation indicator to trigger adaptation on multiple powerconsumptions aspects. In this case, a UE can be provided with anadaptation table to address adaptation on RRC parameters that are notconfigured per BWP but are essential to define different powerconsumption levels or power saving states.

FIG. 24 illustrates a flowchart for detecting a DCI format by a UE atthe beginning of a DRX ON duration for triggering UE adaptation inaccordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. Operations offlowchart 2400 can be implemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2400 begins at operation 2402 by monitoring a DCI format withfields for triggering UE adaptation. In operation 2404, the DCI formatis detected within the first K slots of a DRX ON duration. In operation2406, a determination is made whether to go to sleep for the remainingActive Time of current DRX cycle. In one embodiment, the determinationis made based on a binary bit in the first field for triggering UEadaptation.

If the first field indicates that a UE should not go to sleep for theremaining Active Time of current DRX cycle, i.e., continue PDCCHmonitoring, then flowchart 2400 proceeds from operation 2406 tooperation 2408 where the active DL BWP is determined after wake-up. Inoperation 2410, a minimum K0/K2 is determined after wake-up, and inoperation 2412, a joint adaptation indicator is determined. The activeDL BWP, minimum K0/K2, and the joint adaptation indicator can bedetermined based on an information bit in the same field, i.e., a secondfield, or based on information bits in different fields.

Returning to operation 2406, if the determination is made that the firstfield indicates that the UE should go to sleep for the remaining ActiveTime of the current DRX cycle, i.e., skip PDCCH monitoring, thenflowchart 2400 proceeds from operation 2406 to operation 2414 where adetermination is made whether to wake up for the next N1*Y DRX ONduration(s) after the Active Time of current DRX cycle. In oneembodiment, this determination can be made based on the information bitsin another field/second field.

When a UE detects a DCI format with fields for triggering UE adaptationduring a DRX Active Time or after the first K slots/milliseconds of aDRX ON duration or when a DRX is not configured, the fields in the DCIformat can be interpreted as indicating UE adaptation withoutassociation from DRX operation. K can be either defined in thespecification of the system operation, for example, K=1, or provided tothe UE by higher layer. The content of DCI format can be any of thefollowing examples.

In a first example, a field or first field of 1 binary bit can indicatewhether or not the UE skips PDCCH monitoring for X PDCCH monitoringoccasions, periodicities, milliseconds, and/or slots in respectivesearch space sets that can be adapted by the DCI format. X can be eitherpredefined in the specification of the system operation, e.g. X=10, orcan be provided to the UE through higher layer signaling. For example,“1” of the first field can indicate UE skips PDCCH monitoring for XPDCCH monitoring occasions, periodicities, milliseconds, and/or slots;“0” of the first field can indicate UE does not skip PDCCH monitoringfor X PDCCH monitoring occasions, periodicities, milliseconds, and/orslots. For another example, “0” of the first field can indicate UE skipsPDCCH monitoring for X PDCCH monitoring occasions, periodicities,milliseconds, and/or slots; “1” of the first field can indicate UE doesnot skip PDCCH monitoring for X PDCCH monitoring occasions,periodicities, milliseconds, and/or slots. The remaining fields of theDCI format for triggering UE adaptation can be interpreted based on theresult of the first field according to the following rules.

Rule 1. When the UE is triggered to skip PDCCH monitoring for X PDCCHmonitoring occasions, periodicities, milliseconds, and/or slots, anotherfield or a second field of N1 bit(s) can indicate whether the UE skipsPDCCH monitoring for additional time period after the X PDCCH monitoringoccasions, periodicities, and/or slots. For example, the second fieldcan be N1 bits and indicates whether or not the UE can skip PDCCHmonitoring for a number of next N1*Y PDCCH monitoring occasions and/orperiodicities after the X PDCCH monitoring occasions, periodicities,and/or slots. In this case, each of the N1 bits can indicate whether ornot the UE can skip PDCCH monitoring for the ith (i=0, 1, . . . , N1−1)set of Y consecutive PDCCH monitoring periodicities/occasions Any ofN1/Y can be either predefined in the specification of the systemoperation, e.g. N1=1/Y=1, or provided to the UE through higher layersignaling. For another example, the second field can be N1 bits, and canindicate one of 2{circumflex over ( )}N1 preconfigured time periods thatthe UE can skip PDCCH monitoring in the respective search space setafter.

Rule 2. When the UE is triggered to not go to sleep or continue PDCCHmonitoring for X PDCCH monitoring occasions/periodicities, another fieldor a second field of N1′ bits after the first field can indicateadaptation on PDCCH monitoring periodicity. N1′ can be either predefinedin the specification of the system operation, e.g. N1′=1, or provided tothe UE through higher layer signaling. When the UE does not go to sleepor skip PDCCH monitoring for the remaining Active Time of current DRXcycle, yet another field or a third field of N2′ bits after the first orsecond field can indicate minimum K0/K2 for cross-slot scheduling,wherein K0/K2 indicate the slot offset between DCI and its scheduledPDSCH/PUSCH. N2′ can be either predefined in the specification of thesystem operation, e.g. N2′=1, or provided to the UE through higher layersignaling. When the UE does not go to sleep or skip PDCCH monitoring forthe remaining Active Time of current DRX cycle, yet another field or athird field of N3′ bits after the first or second field can indicateadaptation on PDCCH candidates per CCE AL for respective search spacesets. The respective search space sets can be either defined in thespecification of system operation or provided to the UE through higherlayer signaling. N3′ can be either predefined in the specification ofthe system operation, e.g. N3′=1, or provided to the UE through higherlayer signaling.

In a second example, a field of N1>=1 bits can indicate one of2{circumflex over ( )}N1 joint candidate adaptations associated withmultiple adaptive parameters related to PDCCH monitoring in respectivesearch space sets that can be adapted by the DCI format. The2{circumflex over ( )}N1 candidate adaptations can be either predefinedin the specification of the system operation, for example, N1=2, Table5, or provided to the UE through higher layer signaling. A relatedadaptive parameter can be minimum PDCCH monitoring periodicity forrespective search space sets. In this case, for a respective searchspace s with a PDCCH monitoring periodicity less than X, UE will assumethe PDCCH monitoring periodicity is adapted to X when the UE receivesthe DCI format indicating the minimum PDCCH monitoring periodicity of X.Another related adaptive parameter can be maximum number of PDCCHcandidates per CCE AL in respective search space sets. In this case, fora respective search space s with PDCCH candidates per CCE AL that islarger than Y, UE will assume the PDCCH candidates per CCE AL is adaptedto Y when the UE receives the DCI format indicating the maximum PDDCHcandidates of Y.

TABLE 5 Minimum PDCCH DCI monitoring Maximum PDCCH fieldperiodicity,/slot candidates per AL 00 T = 1 16  01 T = 2 8 10 T = 3 411 T = 4 2

In a third example, a field can indicate a minimum scheduling delayoffset, i.e. minimum applicable value of K0 or K2.

In a fourth example, a field can indicate a minimum processing timelineoffset. The field can be c1 bit to indicate 2{circumflex over ( )}c1preconfigured a list of candidate values. The minimum processing timeoffset can indicate any of the following:

minimum applicable value of K0;

minimum applicable value of K2;

minimum applicable value of aperiodic CSI-RS triggering offset;

minimum applicable value of SRS slot offset; and/or

minimum applicable value of K1.

In a fifth example, the DCI format can include any of the followingfields to trigger adaptation on PDCCH monitoring associated with asearch space set s in CORESET p:

a field with c1 bit to indicate the associated search space set index,s, for adaptation. For example, mod(s, 2{circumflex over ( )}c1) iscarried in the DCI, where c1 can either be defined in the specificationof the system operation, for example, c1=1, or provided to a UE byhigher layer signaling;

a field with 1 bit to indicate deactivation or activation of searchspace set s;

a field with 1 bit to indicate deactivation or activation of CORESET p,associated with search space set s;

a field with 1 bit to indicate scaling of the monitoring periodicity ofsearch space set s, e.g., “0” indicate reduce the monitoring periodicityof search space set by half, “1” indicate double the monitoringperiodicity of search space set s;

a field with 1 bit to indicate scaling on the monitoring duration ofsearch space set s, e.g., “0” indicate reduce the monitoring duration ofsearch space set by half, “1” indicate double the monitoring duration ofsearch space set s;

a field with c2 bits to indicate the activated or deactivated CCE ALs,where c2 can either be defined in the specification of the systemoperation, for example, c2=2, or provided to a UE by higher layersignaling; and/or

a field with c3 bits to indicate the activated or deactivated PDCCHcandidates per CCE AL, where c3 can either be defined in thespecification of the system operation, for example, c3=2, or provided toa UE by higher layer signaling.

In a sixth example, the DCI format can include any of the followingfields to trigger adaptation on PDCCH monitoring in one or morerespective search space set(s):

a field with c4 bits to indicate the number of cells to monitoring PDCCHcandidates, where c4 can either be defined in the specification of thesystem operation, for example, c4=2, or provided to a UE by higher layersignaling;

a field with c5 bits to indicate the scaling on maximum number ofmonitored PDCCH candidates per slot and per serving cell, where c5 caneither be defined in the specification of the system operation, forexample, c5=2, or provided to a UE by higher layer signaling;

a field with c6 bits to indicate the active DL BWP, where c6 can eitherbe defined in the specification of the system operation, for example,c6=2, or provided to a UE by higher layer signaling;

a field with 1 bit to indicate whether or not UE skips monitoring PDCCHfor N slots/milliseconds, where N can be defined in the specification ofthe system operation, such that N=1, or provided to a UE by higher layersignaling; and/or

a field with c7 bits to indicate a sleep duration, T sleep, where UE donot monitor PDCCH in any respective search space sets within theindicated sleep duration. For example, c7 bit can indicate 2{circumflexover ( )}c7 candidate sleep durations, where c7 and candidate sleepdurations can be either defined in the specification of the systemoperation or provided to a UE by higher layer signaling.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flowchart for detecting a DCI format by a UEwithin the DRX Active Time for power saving in accordance with variousembodiments of this disclosure. Operations of flowchart 2500 can beimplemented in a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

Flowchart 2500 begins at operation 2502 by obtaining a configuration ona DCI format with fields for triggering UE adaptation and respectivesearch space sets that can be adapted. In operation 2504, a DCI formatwithin the DRX Active Time is detected or no DRX is configured. In oneembodiment, the DCI format is detected with a successful CRC checkwithin the DRX Active Time. In operation 2506 a determination is made asto whether a first field indicates to skip PDCCH monitoring ordeactivate respective search space sets. For example, the determinationcan be for skipping PDCCH monitoring in the respective search spaceset(s) for a time period, such as X PDCCH monitoring occasions,periodicities, slots, and/or milliseconds.

If the first field associated with adaptation signaling indicates not toskip PDCCH monitoring, then flowchart 2500 proceeds from operation 2506to operation 2508 where the PDCCH monitoring periodicity is determined,and then to operation 2510 where the adapted PDCCH candidates per CCE ALis determined for the respective search space sets that are notdeactivated.

If the first field associated with adaptation signaling indicates toskip PDCCH monitoring, then flowchart 2500 proceeds to operation 2512 todetermine whether PDCCH monitoring should be skipped for an additionaltime period, such as the next N1*Y PDCCH monitoringoccasions/periodicities/slots/milliseconds after the deactivated timeperiod indicated by the first field. The determination can be made basedon information bits included in a second field, or another field.

Determination of PDCCH Monitoring Occasion for Triggering UE AdaptationAssociated with DRX Operation

Another embodiment of this disclosure relates to determination ofmonitoring occasions of signal/channel at physical layer for triggeringUE adaptation associated with DRX operation in RRC_CONNECTED state. A UEcan receive a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a RNTI dedicated forpower saving, for example, PS-RNTI. The DCI format is referred to hereinas PS-DCI.

A UE can be configured with a PDCCH based signal/channel in a searchspace set s for triggering UE adaptation with association with DRXoperation in RRC_CONNECTED state, the UE can determine a PDCCHmonitoring occasion on an active DL BWP from the PDCCH monitoringperiodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and the PDCCH monitoringpattern within a slot. The UE determines that a PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for the signal/channel in the respective search space setsexists in a slot with number n_(s,f) ^(μ) REF1 in a frame with numbern_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot) ^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f) ^(μ)−o_(s)) mod k_(s)=0. Thevalue X is applicable as candidate value for PDCCH monitoringperiodicity of search space set s, i.e.monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset in REF7, only if X is multiples ofconfigured DRX cycle in the unit of slots, T_DRX, such thatMOD(X,T_DRX)=0. The value Y is applicable as candidate value for PDCCHmonitoring offset of search space set s, only if o_(s)<=O_DRX, whereO_DRX is the configured delay/offset of a DRX cycle. The signal/channelcan be applied to long DRX cycle only. In this case, when only short DRXcycle is configured, UE does not expect to monitor the signal/channelfor triggering adaptation associated with DRX operation. When a UE isconfigured to monitor a DCI format for triggering UE adaptationassociated with DRX operation in search space set s, with durationT_(s), the UE monitors the DCI format in search space set s for T_(s)consecutive slots, starting from slot n_(s,f) ^(μ), and does not monitorthe DCI format in search space set s for the next k_(s)−T_(s)consecutive slots.

A UE can determine the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions fortransmitting a PS-DCI to trigger UE adaptation associated with DRXoperation per a PDCCH monitoring periodicity, N_MOs, according to theconfigured duration, T_(s), and PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slotof associated search space set s, such that N_MOs=T_(s)*N{circumflexover ( )}MOs_slot, where N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_slot is the number ofPDCCH monitoring occasions within a slot indicated by the configuredPDCCH monitoring pattern, or the number of start OFDM symbol within aslot associated with search space set s.

The UE can expect only same content of a PS-DCI for triggering UEadaptation associated with DRX operation can be transmitted within aPDCCH periodicity. Regarding the number of repetitions, the number ofrepetitions of the DCI format can be transparent to the UE. In thiscase, the UE can skip PDCCH monitoring for the DCI format in theremaining monitoring occasions within a periodicity if the UE detectsthe DCI format from one of the N_MOs monitoring occasions.Alternatively, the UE can assume that the DCI format for triggering UEadaptation associated with DRX operation is repeated over the N_MOsmonitoring occasions within a periodicity.

When the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions within a periodicity,N_MOs, is larger than one, a multi-beam operation can be supported totransmit the DCI format for triggering UE adaptation associated with DRXoperation. In multi-beam operation, a UE can determine the QCLassumptions for the N_MOs>1 PDCCH monitoring occasions through one ofthe following examples.

In a first example, the UE can assume that QCL assumption of PDCCH fortransmitting the DCI format changes every C1 monitoring occasions withina PDCCH periodicity. In this case, the maximum of ┌N_MOs/C1┐ differentQCL assumptions can be transparent to the UE. Alternatively, the UE canbe provided with a list of ┌N_MOs/C1┐ TCI states through higher layersignaling to indicate the QCL assumption of the ┌N_MOs/C1┐ subset ofPDCCH monitoring occasions wherein the ith (i=0, 1, . . . ,┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) TCI state from the list indicate the QCL assumption forthe ith (i=0, 1, . . . , ┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) subset with maximum of CImonitoring occasions. CI is a positive integer, and can be eitherdefined in the specification, e.g. C1=1, or be provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

In a second example, the UE can assume that QCL assumption of PDCCH fortransmitting the DCI format cycles every C1 monitoring occasions withina PDCCH periodicity. In this case, a UE can be provided with a list of┌N_MOs/C1┐ TCI states by higher layer signaling, and a UE can beprovided with the index of the first TCI state, I_0, by higher layersignaling. The UE can determines the QCL assumption for the ith (i=0,1,┌N_MOs/C1┐−1) subset of maximum of C1 monitoring occasions based on I_0,such that the (I_0+i)th TCI state from the list indicate the QCLassumption for the ith subset of maximum of C1 monitoring occasions. I_0can be reconfigured by a MAC CE. C1 is a positive integer, and can beeither defined in the specification, e.g. C1=1, or be provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

In a third example, the UE can assume N_MOs equals to the number ofactual transmitted SS/PBCH blocks determined according tossb-PositionsInBurst in SIB1. The i^(th) PDCCH monitoring occasion forthe DCI format within a periodicity corresponds to the i^(th)transmitted SS/PBCH block, and is QCLed with the i^(th) transmittedSS/PBCH block. The QCL type between the i^(th) transmitted SS/PBCH blockand the i^(th) PDCCH monitoring occasion can beQCL-TypeA/QCL-TypeB/QCL-TypeC/QCL-TypeD, and can be provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

FIG. 26 illustrates a schematic of multibeam transmission on the DCIformat for triggering UE adaptation associated with DRX operationthrough N_MOs>1 PDCCH monitoring occasions per PDCCH monitoringperiodicity in accordance with various embodiments of this disclosure. AUE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3, can be configured with a search space setfor transmitting DCI format to trigger UE adaptation associated with DRXoperation.

The UE can be configured with N_MOs>1 PDCCH monitoring occasions 2601and 2602 within a PDCCH monitoring periodicity 2605. The UE expects thata DCI format for triggering UE adaptation associated with DRX operationis repeated over the N_MOs>=1 PDCCH monitoring occasions within a PDCCHmonitoring periodicity. The QCL assumptions for the N_MOs>1 PDCCHmonitoring occasions can be different, for example, with beam directiondirections or different spatial parameters.

For a PDCCH monitoring occasion outside of DRX ON duration fortransmitting a PS-DCI to trigger UE adaptation associated with DRXoperation, a UE skips monitoring the PDCCH occasion when the monitoringoccasion is overlapped with the Active Time of previous DRX cycle asillustrated in FIG. 27 that follows. In another approach, a UE skipsmonitoring the PDCCH occasion when the monitoring occasion is overlappedwith the Active Time of previous DRX cycle as illustrated in FIG. 28 andwith any of the following conditions.

Condition 1: the Active Time of previous DRX cycle is overlapped withthe next DRX cycle the PS-DCI is associated with.

Condition 2: the total number of DCI sizes if UE monitors/decodes thePS-DCI exceeds the DCI size budget.

Condition 3: the offset between the monitoring occasion and the next DRXON duration the PS-DCI is associated with is less than a threshold,K_threshold. K_threshold can be either defined in the specification ofthe system operation, e.g. K_threshold=1 slot, or provided to the UEthrough higher layer signaling.

Condition 4: the number of PDCCH decoding if the UE monitors/decodes thePS-DCI exceeds the PDCCH blind decoding capacity.

A gNB can transmit dummy bits in the fields associated with the UE whenthe UE is not supposed to monitor the PS-DCI. In one example, the dummybits can be all zeros or all ones.

FIG. 27 illustrates a schematic diagram for a PDCCH monitoring occasionoutside of DRX ON duration that is overlapped by the dynamic Active Timeof the previous DRX cycle in accordance with various embodiments of thisdisclosure. The monitoring can be performed by a UE, such as UE 116 inFIG. 3.

The UE can determine a PDCCH monitoring occasion 2703 and 2704 outsideof DRX ON duration 2705 and 2706. When an Active Time of a DRX cycle isextended, for example drx-InactivityTimer 2707 is restarted, and theextended Active Time of a DRX cycle overlaps with PDCCH monitoringoccasion 2704 associated with next DRX cycle, the UE can skip monitoringthe overlapped PDCCH monitoring occasion 2704, and the UE assume no DCIformat to trigger UE adaptation associated with DRX operation istransmitted.

For a PDCCH monitoring occasion outside of DRX ON duration fortransmitting a PS-DCI to trigger UE adaptation associated with next oneor more DRX cycle(s), a UE can skip monitoring the PDCCH monitoringoccasion when the UE detects a DCI format in previous PDCCH monitoringoccasion that indicates the UE to sleep or skip PDCCH monitoring for atleast one of the associated DRX cycle(s).

FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic diagram of skipping the monitoringoccasion of PS-DCI in accordance with various embodiments of thisdisclosure. Skipping of the monitoring occasion can be performed by aUE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

A UE can be configured with monitoring occasion for PS-DCI 2801 and 2803before DRX ON duration 2802 and 2804. The UE can be indicated to skipPDCCH monitoring at least in USS sets for more than one DRX ON duration.When the UE is indicated to skip DRX ON duration 2802 and 2804 by thePS-DCI in monitoring occasion 2801 the UE can skip monitoring occasionof PS-DCI 2803. A gNB can transmit dummy bits in the fields associatedwith the UE when the UE is not supposed to monitor the PS-DCI. In oneexample, the dummy bits can be all zeros or all ones.

For N_MOs>=1 PDCCH monitoring occasions outside DRX ON duration orActive Time for transmitting a PS-DCI to trigger UE adaptationassociated with DRX operation, if there is partial overlap betweenSS/PBCH blocks and the N_MOs PDCCH monitoring occasions, the UE canstart monitoring PDCCH in the first PDCCH monitoring occasion after theSS/PBCH blocks. The overlapped PDCCH occasions can be skipped but isstill counted as PDCCH monitoring occasions when UE determines the indexof the PDCCH monitoring occasions. Alternatively, when there is anoverlap between SS/PBCH blocks and the N_MOs PDCCH monitoring occasions,the first occasion after the SS/PBCH blocks can be counted as the firstPDCCH monitoring occasion, and UE monitors up to N_MOs consecutive PDCCHmonitoring occasions before the start of a the first associated DRX ONduration.

Determination of PDCCH Monitoring Occasion for Triggering UE Adaptationwithout Association with DRX Operation

Another embodiment of this disclosure relates to the determination ofmonitoring occasion of signal/channel at physical layer for triggeringUE adaptation without association with DRX operation in RRC_CONNECTEDstate. For example, the signal/channel can be a DCI format transmittedto UE through PDCCH.

A UE can be configured with a PDCCH based signal/channel in a searchspace set s for triggering UE adaptation without association with DRXoperation in RRC_CONNECTED state, the UE can determine a PDCCHmonitoring occasion on an active DL BWP from the PDCCH monitoringperiodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and the PDCCH monitoringpattern within a slot. The UE determines that a PDCCH monitoringoccasion(s) for the signal/channel in the respective search space setsexists in a slot with number n_(s,f) ^(μ) REF1 in a frame with numbern_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot) ^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f) ^(μ)−o_(s)) mod k_(s)=0.When the respective search space set s is configured with durationT_(s), the UE monitors the DCI format in search space set s for T_(s)consecutive slots, starting from slot n_(s,f) ^(μ), and does not monitorthe DCI format in search space set s for the next k_(s)−T_(s)consecutive slots.

A UE can determine the number of PDCCH monitoring occasions fortransmitting a DCI format to trigger UE adaptation per a PDCCHmonitoring periodicity, N_MOs, according to the configured duration,T_(s), and PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slot of associated searchspace set s, such that N_MOs=T_(s)*N{circumflex over ( )}MOs_slot, whereN{circumflex over ( )}MOs_slot is the number of PDCCH monitoringoccasions indicated by the configured PDCCH monitoring pattern within aslot, or the number of start OFDM symbol within a slot associated withsearch space set s. The UE can expect only same content of a DCI formatfor triggering UE adaptation can be transmitted within a PDCCHperiodicity. Regarding the number of repetitions, the number ofrepetitions of the DCI format can be transparent to the UE. In thiscase, the UE can skip PDCCH monitoring for the DCI format in theremaining monitoring occasions within a periodicity if the UE detectsthe DCI format from one of the N_MOs monitoring occasions.Alternatively, the UE can assume that the DCI format for triggering UEadaptation is repeated over the N_MOs monitoring occasions within aperiodicity.

FIG. 29 illustrates repetitions on a DCI format for triggering UEadaptation within DRX Active Time in accordance with various embodimentsof this disclosure. A UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3, can be configuredwith a search space set s for transmitting DCI format to trigger UEadaptation without association with DRX operation.

The UE can be configured with N_MOs>=1 PDCCH monitoring occasions 2902and 2903 within a PDCCH monitoring periodicity 2901. The UE can assumethat the DCI format for triggering UE adaptation is repeated over theN_MOs>=1 PDCCH monitoring occasions. The QCL assumptions for the N_MOs>1PDCCH monitoring occasions is indicated by the activated TCI state ofthe respective CORESET.

For a PDCCH monitoring occasion for transmitting the DCI format totrigger UE adaptation associated with next one or more PDCCH monitoringperiodicity/occasion(s), a UE can skip monitoring the PDCCH occasionwhen the UE detects a DCI format in previous PDCCH monitoring occasionthat triggers the UE to skip PDCCH monitoring for at least one of theassociated PDCCH monitoring periodicity/occasion(s).

FIG. 30 illustrates a flowchart of a process for determining searchspace sets for PDCCH monitoring in accordance with various embodimentsof this disclosure. The operations of flowchart 3000 can be implementedin a UE, such as UE 116 in FIG. 3.

The process of flowchart 3000 begins at operation 3002 by receiving aconfiguration for search space sets which includes a first group indexfor a first group of search space sets and a second group index for asecond group of search space sets.

In operation 3004, an indication corresponding to either the first groupindex or the second group index is determined.

In operation 3006, physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) arereceived according to either the first group of search space sets or thesecond group of search space sets. The process terminates thereafter.

In some embodiments, the process also includes receiving a PDCCHaccording to a common search space. The PDCCH can includes a downlinkcontrol information (DCI) format. The process also includes determiningthe indication based on a value of a field of the DCI format. In someembodiments, the value of the field of the DCI format is the first groupindex, and the indication is only for the first group index.

In some embodiments, the process also includes receiving a downlinkcontrol information (DCI) format in a PDCCH reception according to thefirst group of search space sets; and determining, upon expiration ofthe time duration, the indication for only the second group index. TheDCI format can include a field for a time duration.

In some embodiments, where the configuration further includes a timeduration, the process also includes receiving the PDCCHs according tothe first group of search space sets based on a previous indication forthe first group index; and determining, upon expiration of the timeduration, the indication for only the second group index.

In some embodiments, the indication becomes valid at a beginning of afirst slot that is after a time period corresponding to a number ofsymbols.

Although this disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. For example, this disclosure includes severalembodiments that can be used in conjunction or in combination with oneanother, or individually. It is intended that this disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims. None of the description in this application should be read asimplying that any particular element, step, or function is an essentialelement that must be included in the claims scope. The scope of patentedsubject matter is defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user equipment (UE) comprising: a receiverconfigured to receive a configuration for search space sets, theconfiguration including: a first group of search space sets and a secondgroup of search space sets, and a first group index for the first groupof search space sets and a second group index for the second group ofsearch space sets; a processor operably connected to the receiver, theprocessor configured to determine an indication corresponding to eitherthe first group index or the second group index, wherein the receiver isfurther configured to receive, based on the indication, physicaldownlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first groupof search space sets or the second group of search space sets.
 2. The UEof claim 1, wherein: the receiver is further configured to receive aPDCCH according to a common search space, the PDCCH includes a downlinkcontrol information (DCI) format, and the processor is furtherconfigured to determine the indication based on a value of a field ofthe DCI format.
 3. The UE of claim 2, wherein: the value is the firstgroup index, and the indication is only for the first group index. 4.The UE of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured todetermine the indication for only the second group index based on areception of a downlink control information (DCI) format in a PDCCHreception according to the first group of search space sets.
 5. The UEof claim 1, wherein: the receiver is further configured to receive adownlink control information (DCI) format in a PDCCH reception accordingto the first group of search space sets, wherein the DCI format includesa field for a time duration; and the processor is further configured todetermine, upon expiration of the time duration, the indication for onlythe second group index.
 6. The UE of claim 1, wherein: the configurationfurther includes a time duration, the receiver is further configured toreceive the PDCCHs according to the first group of search space setsbased on a previous indication for the first group index, and theprocessor is further configured to determine, upon expiration of thetime duration, the indication for only the second group index.
 7. The UEof claim 1, wherein the indication becomes valid at a beginning of afirst slot that is after a time period corresponding to a number ofsymbols.
 8. A base station (BS) comprising: a processor configured togenerate a configuration for search space sets, wherein theconfiguration includes a first group of search space sets, a secondgroup of search space sets, a first group index for the first group ofsearch space sets, and a second group index for the second group ofsearch space sets; a transceiver operably connected to the processor,the transceiver configured to: transmit the configuration; and transmitphysical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either thefirst group of search space sets or the second group of search spacesets, wherein the PDCCHs are based on an indication corresponding toeither the first group index or the second group index.
 9. The BS ofclaim 8, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: transmit aPDCCH according to a common search space, wherein the PDCCH includes adownlink control information (DCI) format, and wherein the DCI formatcomprises a field with a value usable to determine the indication. 10.The BS of claim 9, wherein: the value is the first group index, and theindication is only for the first group index.
 11. The BS of claim 8,wherein the indication for only the second group index is determinedbased on a transmission of a downlink control information (DCI) formatin a PDCCH transmission according to the first group of search spacesets.
 12. The BS of claim 8, wherein: the transceiver is furtherconfigured to transmit a downlink control information (DCI) format in aPDCCH transmission according to the first group of search space sets,wherein the DCI format includes a field for a time duration; and theindication for only the second group index is determined upon expirationof the time duration.
 13. The BS of claim 8, wherein: the configurationfurther includes a time duration, the transceiver is further configuredto transmit the PDCCHs according to the first group of search space setsbased on a previous indication for the first group index, and theindication for only the second group index is determined upon expirationof the time duration.
 14. The BS of claim 8, wherein the indicationbecomes valid at a beginning of a first slot that is after a time periodcorresponding to a number of symbols.
 15. A method for determiningsearch space sets for PDCCH monitoring, the method comprising: receivinga configuration for the search space sets, wherein the configurationincludes a first group of search space sets and a second group of searchspace sets, and a first group index for the first group of search spacesets and a second group index for the second group of search space sets;determining an indication corresponding to either the first group indexor the second group index; and receiving, based on the indication,physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either thefirst group of search space sets or the second group of search spacesets.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a PDCCHaccording to a common search space, wherein the PDCCH includes adownlink control information (DCI) format; and determining theindication based on a value of a field of the DCI format.
 17. The methodof claim 16, wherein the value is the first group index, and wherein theindication is only for the first group index.
 18. The method of claim15, further comprising: determining the indication for only the secondgroup index based on a reception of a downlink control information (DCI)format in a PDCCH reception according to the first group of search spacesets.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving adownlink control information (DCI) format in a PDCCH reception accordingto the first group of search space sets, wherein the DCI format includesa field for a time duration; and determining, upon expiration of thetime duration, the indication for only the second group index.
 20. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the configuration further includes a timeduration, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving the PDCCHsaccording to the first group of search space sets based on a previousindication for the first group index; and determining, upon expirationof the time duration, the indication for only the second group index.